For many in the various public sectors involved in the strike action across Northern Ireland tomorrow(Friday), their action is fully justified as there is a threat hanging over many of their jobs.

Cutbacks in public services will ultimately work their way down to personnel as staff costs are among the biggest in the running of any service or industry.

The unions say they must take a stand against cuts arising from the Stormont House agreement which had been hastily agreed just before Christmas between the main political parties.

Following the agreement, everyone went off for their Christmas and New Year holidays thinking another crisis had been averted.

But sometimes in Northern Ireland politics, putting something off to another day will really come back and bite you.

As news that the trade unions were bringing their members out on strike began to gain momentum, Northern Ireland politics took a step backwards once more.

If the Northern Ireland Assembly cannot give leadership to the people in terms of delivery in public services, advancement and growth in industry, who else is there to fill the void?

When negotiations are taking place at Executive level, do those involved take the view “what is in the best interests of the public” rather than “what is in the best interests of my party?” New jobs announcements or government backing for big events often mask what is really going on at political level. Until the Assembly tackle bread and butter issues once and for all, then there will be many sceptics of the whole process and we will continue to teeter from one crisis to another.

Perhaps the day of action tomorrow is a case of ordinary workers taking a stand and asking, “can’t we do better?” The people of Northern Ireland who are hailed everywhere for their industrious and dedicated work ethic and who have came through years of difficult times, deserve something better.

It will not be achieved, however, through strikes effectively crippling the country but through politicians looking at the bigger picture.