Lizzie, I presume from your obvious deep passion about the public sector employees in the Republic of Ireland and other workers you have championed that you ARE a member of a union and attempting in any way, however small, to change the situation otherwise your post would be so much empty talk, hot air and crocodile tears.

I know from your previous posts that you are a full time home educator of a school age child as well as a working mother and a prodigious poster on this forum and numerous other sites therefore I would not expect you to have the time to be as actively involved in your union - Usdaw I presume? - as I was in mine.

I'm sure as a fellow trades unionist who knows that the strength of the membership is in mutual support and collective action Folkiedave is as amused as I am by your rather naughty, teasing absurdly ironic suggestion that you appear as a solo star in front of the TV cameras in the cause of the nation's workforce after all, as those others of us who care deeply about others know this is not about any individual 'glory'.

However, on a more serious note, it would be simple etiquette if, before accepting any fraternal support from 'The People's Republic of South Yorkshire' :), you let him know who your local branch secretary is and what actions you taken so far upon your expressed concerns apart from posting here, have you proposed any useful resolutions for conference for example?