Lawyers in England and Wales have been on strike for more pay since Monday. Their class action began in late June and has already delayed 6,000 court hearings. Now many procedures have to be postponed.
A majority of lawyers had previously voted in favor of the indefinite strike. This includes compensation they receive from the state as public defenders. The goal was to “put the spotlight on the magnitude of the crisis,” said Jo Sidhu, president of the Criminal Bar Association.
The government had already made an offer to the association to pay the lawyers an average of £7,000 more per year. The Bar Association rejected this – arguing, among other things, that the increased fee would only be paid for new mandates, not for existing ones.
Temporary strikes since June
The profession has been on temporary strike since the end of June. Since then, 6,000 court hearings have been postponed, and many proceedings now have to be postponed. The UK government has called the current indefinite strike “irresponsible” and asked the association to reconsider its plan. British media believe the strike has the potential to largely bring criminal justice to a halt in England and Wales.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
