STEVE TURNER’S first few days as a 19-year-old London bus conductor proved a baptism of fire. Having been signed up for the Transport and General Workers Union (T&GWU) on day one, he found himself charged with “riotous affray” within the first week.
His garage had walked out as part of a TUC campaign in 1982 in support of a nurses’ pay claim. The judge found him not guilty when police allegations that union members had intimidated a scab bus driver were found to have been inventions.
“That was the last bit of solidarity action before Thatcher’s government outlawed secondary action,” said Steve. “It was the way that dockers, drivers, electricians and printworkers could support groups with less industrial muscle.