I was intrigued to read the recent letter from Alex Knutsen (The Argus, August 16) basically confirming that the workers of Brighton and Hove City Council are actually well looked after and do not suffer the same hardships of other workers in the private sector.

At a point in history there was a great need for unions to counter inequality but, personally, I think with modern employment law, benefits and human rights, that time has now passed.

We no longer have barefoot, ragged, starving wretches roaming the streets; the modern-day purpose of some public sector unions appears to be to ensure that they get a better-than-fair deal for their members.

Additionally, a personal bone of contention, it is greatly unjust that the tax-paying public are expected to fund union shop stewards’ wages.

Mr Knutsen may well respond with his mantra of how they are good value for money but I would say the public should not be expected to compulsorily fund what is, in effect, a political organisation – and one they may not agree with.

Trevor Alford, former Conservative councillor, Portslade