AS a local trade union activist I must disagree with F Simpson (Letters, September 11), who urges post workers to give in to management and accept so-called "modernisation".

Those of us working in and relying on public services have seen the reality of modernisation on the railways, in the health service, in the public utilities, in care for the elderly, and across a range of local services.

In all these cases modernisation has meant one thing: cuts. Cuts in jobs and cuts in services, with staff and customers both suffering.

That's why there was strong backing from trade unionists for the firefighters in resisting modernisation, again just spin for cuts, in the fire service.

And that's why the post workers can also expect our support in resisting cuts in our post services. Good luck to them!

Ben Drake,

Danum Road, Fulford, York.

Updated: 11:47 Tuesday, September 16, 2003