The Shrewsbury 24 were trade unionists who had taken part in a successful national strike of building workers in 1972 to back up their demands for better pay and conditions. The Tory government of the time instructed the police to investigate alleged picketing incidents that had taken place in Shrewsbury, where unions were poorly organised.

In February 1973 the first six of twenty four pickets were arrested, tried at three separate trials and six of them were sent to prison.  The longest sentences – three and two years respectively – were imposed on Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson for “conspiring to intimidate people to abstain from their lawful work” and for the lesser charges of affray and unlawful assembly (subsequently quashed on appeal).

National lobby of Parliament called by the Public Service Liaison Group, Tuesday 19 October, eve of the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review.