I must admit, I have some sympathy with the people who feel they have to strike.

According to the independent Office of Budget Responsibility, the CPI used by the Government will rise by 11.2 per cent while the RPI (not now used) will rise by 17.7 per cent over the next five years.

The switch to CPI could reduce the value of pension benefits by an average of 15 per cent but possibly by as much as 25 per cent, as reported in the national press on December 12, 2010.

Dennis Barton, Woodthorpe, York.