Your editor asked recently if teachers need unions rather than a professional body (“A hollow ring to the chants of the union faithful”, April 9).

I arrived home the Tuesday before last after attending the NUT conference and over the Easter weekend I received requests for help from the following: two teachers facing competency proceedings; two facing sickness absence procedures; two long-serving members seriously depressed; one potential redundancy; and one senior manager experiencing serious bullying from local parents.

Teachers most certainly need unions - perhaps a really big one such as the NUT that combines trades union support with a professional voice.

Dennis Charman, London.