JUSTICE FOR THE SHREWSBURY 24!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2013 :: RMTnews 20 T he Scottish Regional Council hosted a meeting in support of the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, also attended by members of UNITE (Scotland), UCATT and TSSA, and welcomed actor and former building worker Ricky Tomlinson and his colleagues. Ricky said that he was exceptionally pleased to be in Scotland and outlined the history of the campaign. Ricky was a plasterer working for McAlpines the Building Contractor in North Wales in 1970 during a strike by building workers to demand that the employers Builders Confederation improve working conditions. Ricky was instrumental in organising flying pickets along with his colleagues, Des Warren, John McKinsie Jones and 21 of his workmates and would often by followed by between 50 to 80 police officers. Five months ater the strike ended he was approached by two detectives to say they wanted names to act as Prosecution Witnesses as they believed a crime of conspiracy had occurred. The evidence to justify these allegations came from the Builders Confederation, the Police citing 85 alleged incidents of intimidation. The then Home Secretary decided that the evidence was enough to charge the 24 pickets with “Conspiracy to Intimidate” and Ricky and his colleagues were all arrested. Ricky and Des Warren later appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court and were found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Ricky advised that he did his time in 14 different prisons and spent most of his time in solitary confinement. This was his special punishment for refusing to wear prison clothes. The other workers were blacklisted from the Building Industry and most were never able to work in their respective trades again. The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign firmly believes that the charges were politically motivated, coupled with government JUSTICE FOR THE SHREWSBURY 24!