GMB North West & Irish Region
9 July 2013
Ex Cammell Laird workers petition European Parliament over miscarriage of justice arising from 1984 official strike over job losses. The victims will get a hearing in the European Parliament in the autumn having exhausted all channels at national level to get access to information and justice says GMB
 
GMB Trade Union member and ex Cammell Laird worker Mr Edward Marnell from Aintree, Liverpool and others on 4th July made a petition in the form of complaint to the European Parliament in respect of the unjust treatment of Cammell Laird strikers since 1984.
 
The title of the petition is: Petition in the form of a complaint to the European Parliament in respect of the unjust treatment of Cammell Laird strikers. See notes to editors for a copy of the statement with the petition.
 
In 1984 these workers took official strike action over job losses. They were dismissed, jailed for 30 days and all their redundancy and pension rights were rescinded. Since then every effort to locate official documentation related to the decision to prosecute them, the severity of the sentencing for contempt, their incarceration in the high security Walton Prison and the termination of all employment rights by the company, have failed. These members will get a hearing at European Parliament Committee most likely in the autumn.
 
Kathleen Walker Shaw, GMB Trade Union European officer, said “This case is submitted in the form of a complaint to the Petitions Committee by GMB members exercising their right as EU citizens to the right of petition of the European Parliament.
 
The unjust treatment of the Cammell Laird strikers constitutes a longstanding miscarriage of justice. There have been consistent attempts since 1984 to obtain information, answers and justice (including requests to UK Heads of State and justice ministers) regarding the contravention of basic human rights of the people involved under established European and international laws, Treaties and conventions. Yet to date their stated rights of respect for the principle of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law under Art. 6 of the Treaty of the European Union (1) have been denied.
 
The Cammell Laird workers involved in the official strike action were persistently denied access to justice, and there has been no access to information and documentation to build a case and to seek recourse to due process.  The victims of the case are turning to the European Parliament in despair having exhausted all legal and freedom of information channels at national level to get access to information and justice.
 
GMB Trade Union has supported the campaign for these workers to get justice and this petition is the next step in a long and so far frustrating battle. These members should get a hearing at European Parliament Committee in the autumn”.