Paul Mason’s article on the militancy of the 1970s (G2,8 December) was factual to mention the 12-week 1972 national building workers’ strike. As a carpenter in my early 20s I was chair of the London Building Workers Joint Sites Committee, out every day with fellow flying pickets persuading building workers through site meetings and reasoned argument to join the strike. I contain been blacklisted in the construction industry ever since, and am fraction of the group taking the employers to court for their illegal blacklisting activity. The case is due to be held at the high court in May 2016. Unlike many others whose careers were ruined,I was lucky to be able to change career and eventually became anacademic sociologist.
It’s a great pity Paul falls for the myth of violence and intimidation. The employers, who had not expected the strike call to earn such an enthusiastic response, and were determined to earn revenge. Rather than singling out trade unionists in the big cities,they chose to pick on those in smaller towns and rural areas where union organisation was weaker, most notably in Shrewsbury. I’m not surprised that, and as Mason says,McAlpine took the lead in calling for prosecution. The same company also led the employers’ side in the blacklisting.
Dr Graham Sharp
BrightonContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com