SECURITY GUARDS CALL ON THE UNION MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR RIGHT TO PICKET, THREATENED BY INJUNCTION

 

SECURITY GUARDS CALL ON THE UNION MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR RIGHT TO PICKET, THREATENED BY INJUNCTION  The High Court on Thursday 10 February served United Voices of the World (UVW) union with a temporary injunction banning its Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) striking security guards and their supporters from dancing, singing and even waving banners within 200 metres from the hospital.  This is an unprecedented legal ruling to silence workers and one of the biggest legal attacks against the human rights of the trade union movement in decades, and the guards and their union are determined to resist it vigorously.  “We call on all working class people, all unionists to join hands together, because we see an attempt to suffocate the voices of working people, to suppress the movement of the unions,” Sam Awittor, GOSH security guard on strike Read the Injunction... Donations and messages of support via the union website... ACADEMICS WRITE OPEN LETTER ON THE INJUNCTION AGAINST STRIKING SECURITY GUARDS AT GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL Over 180 academics have written an open letter expressing their solidarity with the striking Great Ormond Street Hospital security guards and calling for the the injunction taken by the hospital to be overturned. As academics and others interested in work, employment relations and public policy, we are deeply concerned about the temporary High Court injunction (10 February) against the United Voices of the World (UVW) union to ban striking outsourced security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and their supporters from “waving banners”, vigorous dancing” or even “making rapid dramatic movements” within 200 metres of the hospital. This unprecedented ruling is a serious assault on all unions and the right to strike, particularly worrisome if the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill becomes law. The GOSH security guards, largely Black and migrant workers, are demanding parity with directly employed NHS workers. Along with health and social care workers, they were on the frontline during the pandemic going far beyond their normal tasks to assist with the hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients. Security guards were most at risk of dying from COVID-19. In particular, limited access to sick pay forced many symptomatic low paid workers into work during the pandemic, contributing to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Minority Ethnic workers. Public services privatisation has created contractual hierarchies reproducing gender and racial divisions in the labour force. Significantly, the recent UVW vs Royal Parks’ judgment found that differential access to employment rights and benefits can constitute indirect race discrimination, breaching the Equality Act 2010. Outsourced workers, represented by several unions have protested these injustices, notably at London universities and Government Departments. Striking facility workers at St Barts hospital, represented by Unite, are currently demanding parity and to be brought back in-house (Porters and cleaners at London NHS hospitals begin two-week strike, The Guardian 21.01.22). Public authorities cannot now avoid the race and gender equality implications of outsourcing. We call on GOSH to recognise the sacrifices made by these workers during the pandemic, and rather than punish them for demanding basic rights, bring them in-house. On 16 February UVW returns to court for a full hearing – the injunction must be overturned. Professor Sian Moore, University of Greenwich Professor Phil Taylor, University of Strathclyde Emeritus Professor Chris Baldry, University of Stirling Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya, University of East London Professor Andreas Bieler, University of Nottingham Professor Liam Campling, Queen Mary University of London Emeritus Professor Bob Carter, University of Leicester Professor Linda Clarke, University of Westminster Professor Christine Cooper, University of Edinburgh Professor Richard Croucher, University of Middlesex Professor Andrew Cumbers, University of Glasgow Professor Ian Cunningham, University of Strathclyde Professor Angela Daly, University of Dundee Emeritus Professor Ralph Darlington, Salford Business School Professor Rick Delbridge, University of Cardiff Professor Tony Dobbins, University of Birmingham Professor Tony Dundon, University of Limerick Professor Keith Ewing, Kings College London Honorary Professor Iain Ferguson, University of West of Scotland Professor Chris Forde, University of Leeds Visiting Professor Gregor Gall, University of Leeds Professor Irena Grugulis, University of Leeds Professor Jane Holgate, University of Leeds Professor Debra Howcroft, University of Manchester Emeritus Professor Jeff Hyman, University of Aberdeen Professor Phil James, University of Middlesex Professor Jean Jenkins, Cardiff University Professor Laleh Khalili, Queen Mary University London Professor David Lewis, University of Middlesex Emeritus Professor Henry Maitles, University of West of Scotland Professor Abigail Marks, University of Newcastle Professor Miguel Martínez Lucio, University of Manchester Professor Kirsty Newsome, University of Sheffield Professor Joe O’Mahoney, Cardiff University Professor Ozlem Onaran, University of Greenwich Professor Andrew Perchard, Newcastle Business School Professor Valeria Pulignano, KU Leuven Visiting Professor Michael Rigby, London South Bank University Emeritus Professor Jonathan Rosenhead, London School of Economics Professor Miriam Ronzoni, University of Manchester Honorary Professor Cilla Ross, University of Nottingham. Professor Lorna Stevenson, University of St. Andrews Emeritus Professor Paul Thompson, University of Stirling Professor Steve Tombs, The Open University Professor Wim Vandekerckhove, University of Greenwich Professor Andrew Watterson, University of Stirling Professor David Whyte, University of Liverpool Professor Tessa Wright, Queen Mary University London Aamer Anwar, Lawyer Lord John Hendy, QC Liz Fekete, Director, Institute of Race Relations Jo Grady, General Secretary, UCU Duncan Adam, Staffordshire University Dr Gabriella Alberti, University of Leeds Business School David J. Bailey, University of Birmingham Dr Bruce Baker, University of Newcastle Dr Ruth Ballardie, University of Greenwich Dr Ioulia Bessa, Leeds University Business School Dr. Findlay Bewicke-Copley, Queen Mary University Dr Ruth Brown, University of East London Dr Cassandra Bowkett, University of Manchester Dr Minjie Cai, Greenwich Business School Dr Callum Cant, University of Oxford Dr Calum Carson, Leeds University Business School Marian Carty, Goldsmiths University Phil Chamberlain, University of Bath Dr Uracha Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, University of London Dr Joseph Choonara, University of Leicester Dr Rachel Lara Cohen, University of London Dr Mark Colpus, University of Greenwich Dr Catherine Crawford, University of Essex Dr Jo Cutter, Leeds University Business School Dr Kendra Briken, University of Strathclyde Dr Shiona Chillas, University of St. Andrews Dr Jill Daniels, University of East London Dr Steve Davies, Cardiff University Peggy Powell Dobbins, University of Alabama, USA Dr Markéta Doležalová, University of Leeds Kirti Durelle, University College London Simon Dye, University of Greenwich James Eastwood, University of London Dr Vaughan Ellis, Edinburgh Napier University Dr Gail Faurschou, University of Alberta Janet Feather-Moore, Leeds University Business School Alfredo Saad Filho, King’s College London Claudia Firth, Ravensbourne University Dr Katy Fox-Hodess, University of Sheffield Ross Gibson, University of Strathclyde Dr Sarah Gilmour, Cardiff University Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver, University of Reading Dr Janna Graham, Goldsmiths University Dr Ian Greenwood, University of Leeds Bianca Griffani, Goldsmiths University Dr Juan Grigera, King’s College London Dr Jane Hardy, Independent researcher and author Dr Kate Hardy, University of Leeds Alan Harrison, Brunel University Dr Ruth Herd, Imperial College London Dr Eva Herman, University of Manchester Dr Marion Hersh, University of Glasgow. Dr Andy Higginbottom (retired), Kingston University Dr Daryl Hodge, University of Liverpool Dr Stirling Howieson, University of Strathclyde Dr Patrick Huff, Associate Lecturer, Birkbeck Dr Bee Hughes, Liverpool John Moores University Mariya Ivancheva, University of Strathclyde Rebecca Jiggens, University of Leeds Dr Mathew Johnson, University of Manchester Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, University of Manchester Kyran Joughin, University of the Arts Dr Simon Joyce, Leeds University Business School Dek Keenan, University of Strathclyde Dr Susan Kelly, Goldsmiths University Dr Rhian Keyse, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Elinor Kirk, University of Glasgow Louise Kowalska, Ruskin Alumni Sharon Lambley, University of Greenwich Dr Jane Lethbridge, Public Services International Research Unit, University of Greenwich Rhiannon Lockley, Birmingham City University Dr Nivi Manchanda, Queen Mary, University of London Carol McCallum, Leeds University Business School Dr Darren McGuire, University of Strathclyde Dr David McKee, University of Strathclyde Dr Mohammad Majid al-Rifaie, University of Greenwich Dr Joyce Mamode, Queen Mary University London Dr Stefania Marino, University of Manchester Dr Douglas Martin, University of Central Lancashire Dr Yassamine Mather, University of Oxford Dr Marian Mayer, University of Bournemouth Dr Renata Medeiros, Cardiff University Dr Alessandra Mezzadri, SOAS Jed Moore, University of Strathclyde Dr Carlo Morelli, University of Dundee Dr Stephen Mustchin, University of Manchester Kerem Nisancioglu, SOAS Dr Liz Oliver, Leeds University Business School Dr Kirsteen Paton, University of Glasgow Dr Brian Patton, University of Strathclyde Dr Davide Però, Nottingham University Business School. Dr Harry Pitts, University of Bristol Paul Prior, University College London Dr Christina Purcell, Manchester Metropolitan University Dr Sterling Rauseo, University of Greenwich Dr Cara Reed, Cardiff University Dr James Richards, Heriot-Watt University Dr Michael Richardson, University of the West of England Dr Alan Roe, University of Leeds Dr Nataliya Rumyantseva, University of Greenwich Dr Melahat Sahin-Dikmen, University of Westminster Barbara Samaluk, University of Ljubljana Dr Kyla Sankey, University of Greenwich Dr Meenakshi Sarkar, Leeds University Business School Dr Tanya Serisier, Birkbeck, University of London Roddy Slorach, Imperial College London Dr Andrew Smith, University of Sheffield Dr Holly Smith, University of Manchester Jane Speare, University of Greenwich Mark Stringer, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Alex Stroleny, University of Greenwich Dr Anthony Sullivan, London College of Fashion Dr Graham Symon, University of Greenwich Dr Safak Tartanoglu-Bennett, University of Greenwich Dr Huw Thomas, University of Bristol Dr Robert Topinka, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Alan Tuckman, Fellow, University of Keele Dr Charles Umney, University of Leeds. Maria Vasquez-Aguilar, City Lit Heather Wakefield, University of Greenwich Rupert Waldron, London College of Fashion Sean Wallis, University College London Tracy Walsh, University of Hertfordshire Dr Vera Weghmann, University of Greenwich Saira Weiner, Liverpool John Moores University Dr Xanthe Whittaker, Leeds University Business School Dr Richard Wild, University of Greenwich Dr Kalpana Wilson, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Alex J. Wood, Work, University of Bristol Dr Jamie Woodcock, The Open University Kayleigh Woods Harley, Birkbeck University of London Dr Patrick Yarker, University of East Anglia Andreas Zaunseder, University of Aberdeen Luciana Zorzoli, Cardiff University. Steve Ballard, Haringey TUC and secretary of London Hazards Centre Cecily Blyther, UCU NEC Rep for Casualised Members in FE Chris Jones, Chair Wales FESC Dr. Ian Manborde, Equality & Diversity Officer, Equity Dr Fenella Porter, RED Learning Co-operative Dr Dave Smith, Blacklist Support Group Dr Marcela Pizarro Coloma, Northwestern University