WITH reference to the situation at Polestar, this definitely demonstrates the benefits belonging to a trade union can bring in negotiating redundancy and pay off settlements.

I believe what alienates people from trade unions in the 21st century is the huge salaries some officials receive.

Just as we have career politicians in Westminster feasting on the funds of taxpayers, so we have some high ranking career trade union officials taking advantage of their position. These career trade unionists enjoy luxuries their members can never afford, all paid for by members' subscriptions. Other people probably rejected union membership because they do not like what they see and hear from the TUC.

However, there is one union which covers all trades, that is not affiliated to the TUC and who do not pay their officials vast sums. This is the Solidarity Trade Union (STU).

If those former workers at Polestar who have missed out on their farewell handshake had joined the STU, they could still have maintained their sceptical TUC vision and not added to the pockets of the career trade unionists, but they might also have benefitted financially from the union's negotiating skills. Perhaps a lesson other workers should heed.

Glen Nicklasson

Solidarity Trade Union

South West Regional organiser

Torquay