The discontent amongst workers from industries of different stripes is clearly evident by the fact that strike action is being balloted for by a range of unions.

Barristers can hardly be accused of being militant. Therefore, when they start indefinite strike action over pay, you know something is broken in this country.

The Criminal Bar Association rejected a 15 per cent rise in legal aid fees from the end of September as it would not start soon enough or apply to the mountain of existing cases.

Now, tens of thousands of firefighters are to be balloted for strikes over pay with members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voting in the coming weeks.

It can’t be a coincidence that these two industries join an ever growing list of others, from transport to medical professions, that have seen or are seeing ballots take place for industrial action.

There are some politicians who want to characterise these strikes as unreasonable and mischief on the part of unions.

But as Chris Moran, a senior barrister in Yorkshire, says, they “feel horrible” about going on strike and leaving victims waiting longer for justice and that they have been left with no other option.

Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the transport union TSSA, also said that they had been left with no other option.

The common theme being the Government simply hasn’t engaged with these unions. The new administration must change that.

And unions will also have to come to a compromise to ensure the country does not become paralysed by industrial disputes.

Widespread industrial action shows that the Government needs to negotiate - The Yorkshire Post says