Ryan Bridge: What was the point of the mega strikes?

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Oct 23, 2025 · 2m · transcript

So 100,000 workers went on strike. Now what?

The cost to settle these claims will run into the billions. Easily.

1979 was the last time we a strike this big. A general strike. 300-thousand people. It was Muldoon days. It was over a dispute with driver unions and transport. It went to arbitration and the unions won.

This time, senior doctors refused binding arbitration.

Secondary teachers have a few more strikes before Christmas.

And the primary teachers have more dates set down for pay talks next month.

You’d have to say, based purely on vibes and a little bit on polling, that the workers win…