In the article "Council strikers set to repeat" (The Argus, July 18), it was claimed that last Wednesday's public services strike was hailed as a "fantastic success" despite the disruption caused.

The strike was a success, at least in part, because of the disruption caused. It is this very disruption that illustrates how valuable the services are and the workers are demanding recognition of this.

There is a crisis in recruitment and retention of staff in social services departments and this needs to be acknowledged by an improvement in pay and working conditions.

Jobs that are valued by society as important are often the lowest-paid.

Care staff, nursery workers and classroom assistants are essential and the workers cannot be expected to do them on what is less than a living wage. It is time this was recognised.

-Rachel Foggitt, rachel.foggitt@ntlworld.com