The problem for the TOC, LNER in this case, is that Joe Public couldn't give 2 hoots about unions, DfT, rest days etc.
What Joe Public does give 2 hoots about is the train service they want to travel on, and in a great many cases have paid to specifically travel on, turning up when it's meant to and going where it's meant to go.
Later today we have 2 consecutive Leeds to London trains cancelled, the final London - Edinburgh of the day (except a Lumo about 90 mins later but nothing on the LNER website about ticket acceptance being in place) cancelled, and some very well used off peak trains (1030 London - Edinburgh, 1400 Edinburgh - London and 1202 York - London) cancelled.
What are the passengers for the final LNER London - Edinburgh meant to do if they can't get to London in time for the 1830 as LNER seem to suggest they should? What are the passengers for the well used off peak services meant to do? Stand for 2-5 hours depending on their journey?
Tens of thousands of Joe Public's every day will view LNER as a disgrace, incompetent, shambolic, useless, not worth the money, clueless, etc.
Try telling those passengers LNER aren't deteriorating at a vast rate of knots. It's the views of those Joe Public's that matter unfortunately, not the views of anyone on the inside or on this forum.