Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Unite members at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Hospital were on strike over pay and a march crossed the river to Trafalgar Square.
At the same time, the London May Day march assembled in Clerkenwell Green before also heading to Trafalgar Square. Trade union members, anti-fascist protesters, socialist campaigners, anti-capitalists and critics of the government’s policy towards migrants were among a number of groups represented.
The nurses’ strike was due to continue on Tuesday but a High Court decision last week cut it short, following a request by the government for the timing of the strike to be reviewed. A judge ruled that the full strike would fall outside the six months allowed.
RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “It is the darkest day of this dispute so far - the government taking its own nurses through the courts in bitterness at their simple expectation of a better pay deal.
“Nursing staff will be angered but not crushed by today’s interim order. It may even make them more determined to vote in next month’s reballot for a further six months of strike action.”
At the same time, the London May Day march assembled in Clerkenwell Green before also heading to Trafalgar Square. Trade union members, anti-fascist protesters, socialist campaigners, anti-capitalists and critics of the government’s policy towards migrants were among a number of groups represented.