We can understand the concern of county council employees at the growing role of outside individuals and companies in the provision of public services.

There are legitimate concerns about the amount of taxpayers' money going into the private sector.

We live in an era when anyone with word 'consultant' in his or her job description seems to command instant respect and often a healthy fee to boot.

Every such item of expenditure must be justified by improved services or significant savings.

Unison is right to be vigilant to ensure that the organisation does not become over-dependent on outsiders.

But we strongly urge the union not to ballot for strike action, as Mark Fysh has threatened.

As things stand, permanent employees have a range of reasonable questions, which management must remain mindful of.

If they take even the first step towards industrial action, the carpet will be pulled from beneath them in the eyes of the taxpayers, whom they purport to be defending.

We will help keep these issues in the spotlight and foster an open debate.

Confrontation over picket lines is not the way forward.