every worker has the right to withdraw their labour... but, and there's always a but, with every price rising people have choices to make... now rail staff deserve a pay rise, so do most other workers, but, and there's that but again. Both the service and the demand have got to be in place, and covid has seen that they are not, no use a driver getting a good/desent rise if there are no passengers to carry, or no tracks available to run on, i think swings and roundabouts come to mind.
Unions besides looking after their members interests have their own agenda's, which don't always match, i have been in 2 unions during my working life, and membership is made up of hard core members, and those who want a job and do the job with no mither...
So supply and demand have got to be the key words... for both workers and management.