Pentonville Five

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pentonville Five were five docker shop stewards jailed in July 1972 by the National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) for contempt of court. They were sent to HM Prison Pentonville in London. The background to the strike was a clash between the Tory government under Edward Heath elected in June 1970 and the Trade Union movement, involving the first national miners’ strike in Britain since 1926, with mass picketing, and clashes between police and workers.

Following their arrest, a rolling series of strikes began to cause work stoppages until there was virtually an unofficial national strike. The action of the trades unions brought the nation to a standstill, and forced the government of the day into a corner. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) then called for an official national strike, demanding the release of the 5 shop stewards. As a result of this appeal thousands of striking workers marched through North London to Pentonville Prison.

The crisis came to a head and total disaster was averted when the previously unknown Official Solicitor (advised by John Vinelott, later a High Court judge) went in person to the prison and, drawing upon ancient powers that nearly everyone had forgotten about, ordered the five shop stewards released. This action resolved a major constitutional and political crisis at the time.

Subsequently Vic Turner continued to work in the docks, transfering from the Royal Group of docks to Tilbury. However he left the docks under the volantary redundancy scheme and started working for Newham Council. He was then elected as a Councillor and served for many years before being elected as Mayor.

During this period he was also presented with the Transport and General Union Gold Medal for his work for the union.