The 1972 Building Workers Strike

16 April On the 28th June 1972 there was an official Building Workers Strike called by UCATT over pay and other issues. Pickets were used in building sites in Cheshire, North Wales and the North West. The Building workers strike was used by the capitalist media to denounce and witch hunt 24 Shrewsbury Building workers who were arrested.

 
In October 1973 24 Building workers were charged with conspiracy and violence under the 1875 Conspiracy Act. Dennis Warren was jailed for 3 years and Eric Tomlinson was jailed for 2 years. They both became political prisoners and refused to wear prison uniform. No acts of violence were ever proved against Dennis Warren, Eric Tomlinson or any of the other 6 Building Workers charged and arrested in 1973.
As Bernie Steer one of the Pentonville 5 said “It is very difficult to prove your innocence “.

The Justice for Shrewsbury Campaign is fighting for the following aims.
1) The quashing of all convictions of the 24 Shrewsbury Pickets arrested and convicted under the 1875 Conspiracy act
2) The release of all Government and police papers involved in the case
3) Examine any links between Central Government and the North wales and west Mercia police divisions.
4) Investigate the systematic intimidation and abuse suffered in prison by Eric Tomlinson and the Late Dennis Warren
The Main aim of the Justice 4 Shrewsbury Campaign is clearing the names of the Shrewsbury Pickets who in 1973 were unjustly charged and sentenced in the courts for their role as active trade Unionists.
This campaign has official TUC Backing.

For a fuller and detailed History of the Shrewsbury Pickets it is necessary to read “The Key to my Cell “by Dennis Warren Shrewsbury picket 1972. I would recommend every Trade Unionist and supporter of the NATIONAL SHOP STEWARDS NETWORK to buy and read “The Key to my Cell”.

Laurence Humphries

LINKS

www.shrewsburypickets campaign.org.uk
www.tuc.org.uk
www.defendthetradeunions.org.
Justice4shrewsbury campaign