CAMPAIGNERS for justice for 24 Shrewsbury pickets unjustly prosecuted 42 years ago hailed a major breakthrough yesterday after Labour pledged to end almost half a century of government cover-ups.

Construction union Ucatt has won a pledge from Labour to release all government papers on the case if the party wins power.

Ucatt, backed by sister unions, also won commitments from Labour’s National Policy Forum for a public inquiry into blacklisting, an end to false self-employment which bosses use to dodge paying tax and national insurance, to introduce a “proper” compensation scheme for victims of asbestos-related diseases and to pressure Qatar’s authorities to end ill-treatment of building workers involved in the country’s World Cup stadium project.

Shrewsbury 24 Campaign co-ordinator and researcher Eileen Turnbull said the surviving pickets are “over the moon.”

“They can see light at the end of the tunnel,” she told the Morning Star.

The 24 were construction workers who were prosecuted following the first-ever national building workers’ strike in 1972.

They picketed construction sites in Shrewsbury and appeared in Shrewsbury Crown Court in 1973. Charges included conspiracy.

Six were jailed, including Ricky Tomlinson and Des Warren.

Four of the 24 have since died, including Mr Warren, who never recovered from his treatment in prison.

Six years ago in Liverpool the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign was launched to overturn the convictions and discover the truth about the injustice inflicted on workers whose only “crime” was campaigning for decent pay and safer working conditions.

But campaigners have consistently come up against government refusals to release most of the official documents and information relating to the prosecutions. Labour has pledged to do so if elected next May.

Ms Turnbull said: “To have the Labour Party adopt the policy of releasing these documents is an absolute political milestone for us — when previous Labour governments in power for years refused to do so. We are absolutely delighted.”

She said since the campaign was launched the government had “drip-fed” information, while most had been kept secret — and the government attempted to delay release of some papers until 2015.

The Blacklist Support Group, which campaigns for a public inquiry into blacklisting, said: “We won’t be cracking open the champagne yet, but this commitment to a public inquiry is a significant step forward in our fight for justice and vindication of our ongoing campaign.”

Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “Ucatt is delighted that Labour has agreed these commitments.

“Labour has listened to Ucatt’s concerns and the concerns of construction workers.”

He said the challenge now was to secure a Labour election victory in May.

Ms Turnbull said she and the Shrewsbury pickets wanted to thank Ucatt, Mr Murphy and Labour NEC member Jim Kennedy for their determination.