Railroad workers across England walked off the job Tuesday, disrupting trains throughout the UK and starting what is expected to be a month of strikes by public service workers demanding higher pay as soaring inflation erodes living standards.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has called two 48-hour strikes this week, canceling most services on Tuesday and Wednesday then again on Friday and Saturday. The strikes come after unions rejected the latest offer on pay and working conditions from Network Rail, which runs the rail network, and 14 train operating companies.
Nurses, border guards and ambulance drivers are among the other workers set to strike this month, forcing the government to discuss mobilizing the army to staff vital public services this winter.
