Sickening excuse

I read that the STUC is attempting to defend the fact that public sector employees take on average three days more sick leave every year than do the private sector (your report, 14 May).

Since state employees' longevity in retirement exceeds that of private sector workers, it doesn't really wash for the union interest group to claim the reason is that the public sector hangs on to many more long-term sick.

With the state payroll up from £103 billion in 1998 to £148 billion eight years later, and outstanding pension obligations in excess of £750 billion, the growing gulf between those who fund the government and those who live off it is a major source of unfairness. The absenteeism difference is just one of the symptoms, a factor pointed out years ago not by the CBI, but by Gordon Brown.

PETER SMAILL

Currie Mains

Borthwick, Midlothian