In 1974, after the austerity measures of the previous Conservative government, social tensions were high and National Health Service pay was low. Following a reorganisation of the service, the new government faced protests and demonstrations by staff demanding higher pay and better conditions; a series of strikes took place that summer, involving nurses, hospital technicians and others, and although the constitution of the Royal College of Nursing barred strikes, nurses belonging to other unions went out for the first time. The action proved effective, leading to awards averaging thirty per cent. Then between post-qualification jobs at King's College Hospital, the author was photographing a demonstration by striking nurses when a union official asked him to take pictures for the union's journal, which led to his covering pickets and meetings.