The National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) had issued an injunction barring further picketing, following an application by Midland Cold Storage Company.
Five shop stewards were named by private investigators for the cold storage company – Conny Clancy, Tony Merrick, Bernie Steer, Vic Turner and Derek Watkins.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) then called for an official national strike on 31 July, demanding the release of the five shop stewards.
The "Five" were released within a week of their arrest when the Official Solicitor Norman Turner, on receipt of the papers, successfully applied to the Court of Appeal.
The radical film group Cinema Action made a documentary called Arise Ye Workers[9] during the struggle, which was released in 1973.