We have been made to contend with railway workers, cabin crew and post office staff going on strike over the years - but there was a shortage of bread due to a string of bakers joining the picket line in the 1970s.
Bakers began striking for a pay rise in December 1974.
Then, in 1977 and 1978, strikes continued when the Bakery, Food and Allied Workers Union stopped supplies of flour from reaching Britain’s smaller bakers.
Some supermarket shelves were left empty due to south Essex residents racing to get hold of supplies before they ran out, while other shoppers queued for hours outside bakeries to get their hands on one of the final loafs.
Despite the shortages, many bakers went the extra mile to ensure the elderly still got their bread.
Scroll down to see some eye-catching images from years gone by.
Ready to roll - Baldwin bakery workers get busy in 1977
Sign - the bakers strike led to a shortage of stock
Queues - bread was scarce in November 1978 due to a bakers strike
Delivery - a consignment of bread at Southend Airport in September 1977
Stocking up - queues form outside a Basildon bakery
Read more:
- When protesters took to picket line in Southend and Basildon during 1970s and '80s
- IN PICTURES: 10 eye-catching snaps of 1987 Southend Carnival
Loaves - Basildon union members bake bread for OAPs
Empty shelves - a bakery worker looks out amid the bread shortage of 1977
Batches - bread comes off the factory line in Basildon
Helping - Karen and Giselle Flanegan from the Homemade Bakery in Leigh
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