How much longer in a civilised society can we go on with these railway strikes.

They seem designed to cause the maximum inconvenience, damage and distress to thousands of wholly innocent people, and to damage the national economy.

The matter should not be resolved by force and coercion.

You and I do not know the real merits and demerits of the problem.

If you and I have a dispute, and we cannot sort it out, we go to the judge, and that is it.

Surely in matters affecting public service the parties should be required by law to try to negotiate and settle, or otherwise go to compulsory binding independent arbitration by a panel of wholly independent and respected experts hearing all the evidence and giving an impartial informed decision in the public interest.

Alec Samuels

West End