based on ICFTU Bulletin report
The court of Oviedo, in the Asturias rogion of Spain, acquitted 5 trade unionists, moubers of the sponish general workorst unicn UGT, on lj thDecember, 1963. This vordict+ was returned nfter a trinl which hed lasted 4 days, In July, 1963, the Oviedo police announced the arrest of these 5 trade unionists.,..accusing them of having been amongst organisers of the miners! strike — which took place in July and Jugust, 1963 — end belonging to the tsocialist-marristt organisation UGT/ICFTU. The principal charge made by the public prosecutor was thet of having reorganised the General “orkors! Union inside BDAI Hs and the accused were cach sentenced to 5 years! inprisomment and fined 30,000 pesetas (about £300), The accused admitted having distributed tracts and 16,000 pesetas amongst the families of deported strikers and workers,
Defence Counsel for the UCT trade unionists celled for their acquittal, arguing that they hed reorganised the trade union movazent clandestinely in order to defend trade union rights for the workers, since the present state-controlled trade union organisation rasemblod a traie union in name only. As a result of the statement iy the Defence Counsel, the accused were acquitted, Tho arrest of 5 trade unionists Was Mentioned in the joint complaint of the International Confederation ef Free Trade Unions and the International Yeteration of Christian frede Unions to the International Labour Office in August, 1963.