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Whose fault is it that university employers have not noticed laws on sexual orientation and religious belief that came into effect this week ("HE 'not ready for laws on equality'", THES , November 28)? The laws didn't come out of thin air. They were based on a European Union directive of 2000.

Universities were similarly "not ready" for laws on working time, part-time employees, fixed-term workers and race relations, although they lobbied vigorously against most of them before they were passed.

Even more surprising is the trade union spokesperson's apparent sympathy with university employers for their lack of preparedness. I do not pay union subscriptions for officers to sympathise with university employers' failings.

Daniel Vulliamy
University of Hull