“We’ve been working so hard just to qualify into this career, and now we’re faced with the reality that our future jobs and lives look bleak and stressful. If this strike is what it takes so that the next years as junior doctors look more liveable, then the majority of medical students will 100% stand behind that and will be on picket lines!”

So says a medical student, about to qualify as a junior doctor.

She is one of hundreds of thousands of young people – teachers, NHS workers and more – on the picket line for the very first time. Forced to fight due to the cost-of-living crisis and savage austerity, young people have been inspired by the rail and post strikes, and are learning the traditions of working-class struggle. Whatever happens in this strike wave, for these young people things will never be the same again.

March will see the biggest action yet – and it could still get bigger. Members of unions are delivering strong messages to their leaders to fight on. Rail workers resoundingly rejected the latest ‘offer’ by bosses. Postal workers have voted ‘yes’ to strike action in stunning numbers in the reballot enforced by Tory anti-union legislation. In Wales, ambulance workers, teachers and school support staff have overwhelmingly rejected the meagre offers from the Welsh Labour government.

15 March is Budget Day, when the Tories will outline their latest plans to attack the working class. They will be met by a massive strike of school and civil service workers. Members of the RMT union are running the railways that day so that thousands of workers around the country can demonstrate in central London.

Then on 16 March, they will join education workers in schools and universities on another day of national strike action.

There’s still time for all unions with live ballots to join in on 15 and 16 March, to deliver the biggest blow yet to the bosses and the Tory government. 

National strike wave dates

National Education Union regional action

  • 28 Feb: Northern, North West, Yorkshire and Humber
  • 1 March: East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern
  • 2 March: London, South East, South West, Wales

NHS                      

  • Ambulances: 6 and 20 March
  • Junior doctors: 72-hours mid-March

15 March: Budget Day

  • National Education Union
  • PCS civil service union
  • National demonstrations in London and Cardiff

16 March

  • RMT national rail
  • National Education Union
  • UCU in universities

The UCU is also striking on 17 March. RMT will be out on strike on the 18, 30 March and 1 April. PCS is taking targeted action at various employers. Local action will be taking place including a week-long strike at Amazon Coventry from 13-17 March