The Battle for the Barbican. Between 1965-1967, there were a series of disputes on Myton Ltd's Barbican redevelopment site in the City of London. Following several sackings, there was a thirteen-month lock-out and strike by all the workers on site from Oc
Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo
Image ID: ETY1J5
The Battle for the Barbican. Between 1965-1967, there were a series of disputes on Myton Ltd's Barbican redevelopment site in the City of London. Following several sackings, there was a thirteen-month lock-out and strike by all the workers on site from October 1966 to November 1967 making it one of the longest industrial disputes in UK history.. The strike centred on disputes about bonus payments, sub-contracted casual workers and health and safety on the site following two fatal accidents. In March, union officials agreed to a return to work with the exception of the works committee, but other workers would not return without them and the unofficial strike continued. Lou Lewis, the chief convenor, was expelled from his union, the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers. After Myton dismissed the whole workforce the company a subsidiary of Taylor Woodrow attempted to bring in new recruited labour through the picket line in April, the mood rapidly became more bitter and throughout the following months violent clashes flared between pickets and police. The strike ended in November 1967 with the re-employment of most strikers. However, Myton's refused to re-employ six members of the Workers Committee, including Lou Lewis. Our Picture Shows: Striking construction workers seen here marching close to the Barbican construction site following 45 workers who had agreed to defy the unofficial strike pickets. Sparking off clashes along Goswell Road between the police and the strikers 16th October 1967
