 A militant union shop steward stands accused of having thrown a brick that caused the death of one of the scab workers while he was crossing a picket line. However, this is not the only labor problem plaguing Rumpole. When Henry becomes upset that Ballard is planning to eliminate the clerk s percentage and put them on straight salary, Rumpole spends a late night commiserating with his clerk at Pomeroy s. A piqued Hilda objects to her husband s late hours and goes on strike as cook of the household, leaving the hungry barrister to his own devices for his dinners. In addition, during the trial Featherstone s objection to a proposed change in judicial appointments which would allow solicitors on the bench causes him to "withdraw her services" as judge for the afternoon as well.