Thousands took to the streets on February 1 in support of striking workers from the National Education Union (NEU), Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the RMT and Aslef.

The strikes share central issues of pay and conditions; all unions are fighting for inflation matching pay rises. Across all industries there is anger at the effect that over a decade of cuts in funding has had on essential public services.

Teachers at the march spoke of school falling to pieces without money for repairs, the UCU is seeing talented people leave the profession due to low pay and job insecurity, and the PCS has suffered a ‘relentless assault on living standard,’ according to vice-president Hannah David.

Around three thousand people joined the march in Bristol as 500,000 people across the country walked out of their workplaces on strike.

Read more: Unions unite for strike march

All photos: Wong Yat Him