Fact Service February 2022

Issue 7

Hospital pickets hit with injunction

The United Voices of the World (UVW) trade union reports that is has been served with a temporary injunction banning its striking security guard members and their supporters from dancing, singing and waving banners within 200 metres of Great Ormond Street Hospital. .

The guards began a planned 44 day strike on 2 February that commenced with a rally and occupation. Along with hospital cleaners, they have also launched an employment tribunal claim alleging that the hospital’s denial of NHS benefits amounts to indirect race discrimination.

UVW general secretary, Petros Elia, commented: “This injunction is the latest attempt by a powerful public institution to try and silence a small group of Black, Brown and migrant low-paid workers on strike for sick pay and against discrimination. This judgment should send a signal to the entire union movement that the right to strike and protest is not given and can be taken away by a single judge at any time.”

https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/news/2022/02/gosh-security-guards-call-on-the-union-movement-to-support-their-right-to-picket-threatened-by-injunction