JOHN Blunt (LET, November 19) makes some highly-relevant points about early retirement in the public sector and its cost to the taxpayer, but there is another side to the coin.

At 53, I was made compulsorily redundant after 17 years' service and a near-perfect sickness record.

After dozens of unsuccessful job applications and negative vibes from the Job Centre I am now after 18 months trying the self-employed route. I have a small pension.

But I would make the following points:

The subject opens a large can of worms not only applying to the "top people" in local government, but "fat cats" everywhere in the private and public sector, particularly the privatised areas.

Top people in local government set the conditions, pensions, salaries, etc. - that is, they influence the councillors. Salary rises compound the pensions, and if the "indians" benefit, so be it.

The system is replicated throughout the country.

Witness the impeccable timing by MPs of their pay rise just before to the Election. Many MPs were not returned. How did they fare with their pensions?

Euro MPs' fiddles were exposed in a recent TV programme. But has anything been done?

The "remuneration" committees of companies such as the utilities set the salaries etc of the main board directors are they independent?

The utilities directors seem to do very well when they leave or get pushed - free non-contributory pension, options on shares, etc.

Tony Blair is going to be "fair." Fair to whom, I wonder?

Name and address supplied.

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