Barristers have joined the picket line today as they become the latest workers to walk out in Britain’s summer of discontent and strike in a dispute over legal aid funding.
The lawyers taking action to follow a vote from BT workers, which could spark ‘tremendous disruption’ for millions working from home, on top of the chaos caused by rail strikes last week, organized by the RMT union.
Doctors, binmen, postmen and teachers are also all considering walking out over the coming weeks as well, adding yet more pressure on public services.
The barristers’ walk-out comes just a week after Britain saw the biggest rail strike in 30 years – as furious commuters were forced to battle for buses, drive or cycle to get around the country.
Around 50 barristers gathered outside the Old Bailey this morning, many in their gowns and wigs, standing close to the court entrance – as the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association claimed barristers are the “poor persons” of the legal system.
And barristers were seen tearing up as emotional statements were read out outside of Manchester Crown Court.
Crowds of strikers formed outside courts in Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, and London as barristers demanded their woes were heard in the battle over pay.
A sign was held up listing their demands, as it read: ‘Raabed of justice. Pay for criminal bar daylight robbery.’
CBA chairman Jo Sidhu QC said: ‘Right now we are engulfed in a crisis of epic proportions that had never afflicted this country previously, which has brought almost to a standstill the system that we all love.
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