In the Summer of 1972, there was a national building workers strike lasting 3 months to reduce the working week to 35 hours, for a base wage of £30 per week and to campaign for the decasualisation of the industry. 'Flying' pickets travelled to the numerous building sites in North Wales and Shropshire to make the strike more effective. In February 1973, 24 pickets were arrested and charged with conspiracy to intimidate, under the 1875 Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, over events which had taken place in Shrewsbury the previous September. The trial opened in October 1973 and lasted 3 months. Six of the men were given prison sentences. Ricky Tomlinson (centre right) was given 2 years imprisonment and was released on parole in July 1975. Des Warren (centre left) received 3 years and was not released until August 1976. The men are shown here outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

Title	Shrewsbury Pickets campaign, 1973
Maker	Trades Union Congress
Production Date	1973
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
Related Objects	--