Row leaves rural areas to suffer

IT is an age-old truism that what farmers fear most is not bad weather, or Brussels, or the trade unions — but a postal strike.

Basically, the reason for their apprehension is that disputes of the kind now dragging on for over two months can delay delivery of the cheque in the post.

It is fair to suggest that if the current strike was affecting Dublin or some other major city, it would be settled long ago. No doubt, politicians and the major organisations would create a loud hullabaloo over disruptions in such a basic service.