I READ with disgust the decision of the banking and finance unions BIFU and UNIFI, to call a strike of Barclays Bank employees on Christmas Eve. The move is expected to cause "absolute chaos" to branches and a "total breakdown in Barclaycard authorisation services."

In these days of ever-increasing competition among the High Street banks, it is time for the public to vote with their feet, and point out that, while sympathising with the Barclays employees, we are paying a very high price for the convenience of our bank and credit cards and that that convenience is readily available at other banks at competitive rates.

The unions should realise that their proposed actions at a very busy time of year are not going to gain them any sympathy from the public and, in fact, could result in a loss of customers to the bank, thereby putting their members in an even worse situation.

J CLARKE, Whalley Road, Wilpshire, Blackburn.

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