All the biggest strikes hit the UK as the nation plunges into a winter of discontent

Hundreds of thousands of workers from all sectors of the economy are expected to leave in the coming weeks in a devastating wave of industrial action.

Nurses, civil servants, postal workers, charity workers and paramedics are among those grounded in a harsh winter of discontent.

Spiriting inflation and the cost of living crisis - leaving staff dependent on food banks - have piled misery on millions of Britons who have decided enough is enough.

Rishi Sunak's efforts to stabilize the ship after Liz Truss' chaotic premiership fails as critical services are set to shut down over pay disputes.

He admitted to his cabinet that the coming months will be "difficult".

Here we take a look at the major strikes looming this winter.

The UK is set to be hit by a number of high profile strikes in the coming months (

Picture:

Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) The trains

Railway staff will stage a series of 48-hour walkouts in December and January amid a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the RMT union has announced.

>

Over 40,000 Network Rail RMT members and 14 rail companies will go on strike on December 13, 14, 16 and 17 and January 3, 4, 6 and 7.

There will also be a ban on overtime on the railways from December 18 to January 2, which means industrial action will last four weeks.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: 'We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement with the dead hand of government presiding over these talks.

Separately, ASLEF members at 12 companies will already strike on November 26 – Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; Cross country; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; London North East Railway; London Overground; Northern Trains; South East; Transpennine Express and West Midlands trains.

Nurses