More picket lines and travel disruption as tens of thousands of rail workers across Britain walk out.  Represented by the RMT union, for months they have been asking the government for better working conditions and an increase in their pay to match the double digit inflation.

London, December 18 (RHC)-- More picket lines and travel disruption as tens of thousands of rail workers across Britain walk out.  Represented by the RMT union, for months they have been asking the government for better working conditions and an increase in their pay to match the double digit inflation.

The government says the pay rises are unaffordable, and has promised tough action against the unions.  The unions say they're standing firm.

This latest round of strikes will show how important our members are to the running of the country, and will send a clear message that we want a good deal on job security paying conditions for our people. We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement when the dead hand of the government is presiding over and blocking a resolution in these talks.

The strikes come at a cost to the economy in terms of lost working days, and the right wing media in the UK have been counting that cost. Yet that doesn't seem to have dented public support for the strikers.  The cost of living is going up so they should get a pay rise.

Media reports say that the staff at the crisis hit National Health Service, the NHS, will also be going on strike this week for the first time in more than 100 years. And the number of sectors joining the strike action is only growing.