AS an ex-trade-union officer with more than 50 years' service to the trades union movement, I am very concerned about recent reports on the current college lecturers' pay dispute.

I am not in a position to comment on the accuracy or otherwise of the pay claim.

However, I do know that many, many students are currently under even more pressure because of the current protest action.

I am also aware from bitter experience what can happen when a few dozen militant members take it upon themselves to assume that they are "the union".

Sorry folks, but "the union" is all the members, not just the activists.

In 1994, I was in an identical position where the management of DFEE had, after many weeks of pay negotiations, made their final offer.

The executive refused to put this offer to the members so, after consultation with the Treasury solicitors, management wrote to every member of staff, at their home address, explaining the offer and enclosing a ballot form.

The result was a resounding acceptance of the pay offer.

Management went ahead, paid the increase, plus the retrospection from the normal salary increase date, and bingo! The trade union was left looking rather foolish, and there was a mass exodus.

Naturally a Labour Government would not resort to that procedure, they are far too clever... or are they?

Listen and learn.

Liz Edge,

Parkside Close,

York.

Updated: 10:37 Monday, May 22, 2006