JUSTICE FOR THE 37
In 1984 37 striking workers in Cammell Laird Shipyard were imprisoned for occupying a gas rig in order to prevent job losses and compulsory redundancies in the shipyard, this is their story.
The 37 became victims of a far harsher result than their occupation had sought to correct. Dismissed for industrial misconduct, they were stripped of redundancy and pensions, with many of them blacklisted and unable to find work. Two apprentices were also dismissed for refusing to cross the picket line. Cammell Laird remains open and supplying jobs in Merseyside to this day, testament to each of the 37's sacrifice!
In June 1984, following mass redundancies at the Shipyard, a number of employees walked out on strike to halt the redunancies and protect their jobs. Union backing was swift to follow with the GMBATU endorsing the strike shortly after.
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The strike progressed and the occupation of a gas rig, due to be removed to France, was where the 37 began their sit-in. Following Contempt of court proceedings, brought by Cammell Laird, the men were forcibly removed from the rig in early October and imprisoned in Walton prison for 30 days.
The occupation remained peaceful until the end.
Michael Edward Byrne, Thomas James Webb, James McCarthy, George Joseph Whittaker, Francis Roach, Anthony McGarry, James Edward Albertina, William Albertina, Michael Mooney, Aidan Patrick Morley, Joseph Flynn, Colin Earley, Thomas Culshaw, James William Barton, Thomas Joseph Cassidy, Alan Prior, John Brady, Andrew Thomas Fraser, Christopher Whiteley, Francis John Albertina, Thomas Wilson, Edward Marnell, Phillip Michael McKeown, Lawrence Duffy, Nicholas Fenlon, Paul Anthony Hennessy, John Joseph Albertina, John Wright, Sam Morley, Barry Golding, Edward Kenny, Christopher Bilsborough, Christopher Patrick Thompson, Stephen Smith, Paul Little,
Edward Albertina, John J.Dooley