In the days of a Nationalised Railway, with an added detail of much poorer workplace risk management, the Work To Rule was a preferred option. Even today, smooth operation of a complex system, like a railway relies of the ‘interpretation’ of the rules, to make things work smoothly.

If working to rule, the railway would seize-up in way far less predictable that a clear-cut strike, & those protesting would remain eligible for their contracted pay. Might we see a return to this, & overtime bans?