“…misery! bit strong no one is going to die from Argos drivers not delivering a package, or the trains not running a couple of days. “
I agree with the first example. But the second needs a bit of thought. The Southern trains dispute has been ongoing for many, many months. During that time people have suffered enormous difficulties principally with getting to and from work, but also up to London for hospital appointments and other urgent affairs. Some people have had to change jobs, others have had to decline job offers. For most of them there is no realistic alternative but to travel by train. For them “misery” is a perfectly appropriate description especially when coupled with the fact that many season ticket holders pay upwards of £5k per annum for this misery to be inflicted upon them and, most importantly, the dispute is totally unnecessary. There is no reason why Southern train drivers cannot control the doors on their trains as is the case with around 40% of the network – including parts of the busy commuter network into London where circumstances are almost identical.