STRIKING migrant security guards warned of an attack on the entire trade union movement today as they blasted an injunction against protests at a rally outside the High Court in central London.

The outsourced workers, represented by the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, said last week’s interim order, granted by judges after an application by bosses at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), was a “draconian” move that had no place in modern Britain.

The union hoped to have the injunction, which criminalises flag-waving and “loud noises” within 200 metres of the world-famous children’s institution, cancelled today, but the decision was deferred after the presiding judge recused himself over a possible conflict of interest.

Before the Morning Star went to press, UVW confirmed that its lawyers were in negotiation with the hospital after a new judge had been found ahead of a possible hearing on Thursday.  

Trade unionists from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, the University and College Union and RMT attended the demonstration against the emergency order, which also prohibits “vigorous dancing” and “sudden, dramatic movements.”

The rally, which was warned of an “authoritarian drift” against union activity in Britain, was held after more than 180 academics nationwide spoke out against the injunction in an open letter published on Tuesday.

The mainly black and ethnic minority security guards, who began six weeks of industrial action earlier this month to demand the same pay and working conditions as their predominantly white in-house colleagues, stressed that they would “continue to fight until we win.”

Abby, a striking worker, told the Morning Star: “We’re angry. It shouldn’t happen in the United Kingdom — this is the 21^st century.

“If they think this is going to deter us, they must be joking.”

His colleague Samuel condemned management for trying to “gag us from speaking, demonstrating and expressing our rights.

“They think they can use this type of draconian tactic to throw us under the bus, but we’re strong people. We’re not going to be broken.”

Lamenting the “disappointing” delay to the union’s legal fightback, UVW general secretary Petros Elia told the Star: “The current order still stands.

“We’re still criminally prevented from waving flags and dancing outside [the hospital], which is just surreal.”

The hospital said that it respects the right to strike but had to seek an injunction because previous protests created “excessive noise and disruption” that affected patients and workers.

Strike fund donations can be made here: mstar.link/UVWStrikeFund.