Strikers in saris

In 1977, workers at Grunwick photo-processing factory in Willesden, London, went on strike. The workforce was predominantly Asian and female, and was led by Jayaben Desai
Photograph: Peter Johns/Guardian

Three days after Jayaben Desai walked out, workers at the Grunwick plant went on strike over the right to be represented by a trade union
Photograph: Rex Features

Pickets outside the plant, July 1977
Photograph: Graham Morris/Hulton Archive

Workers on the picket line holding posters of people they claim are still working, 14 June 1977
Photograph: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive

A protester being dragged away
Photograph: Aubrey Hart/Getty Images

Grunwick marked the first time that south Asian women challenged the stereotype of being silent and subservient. They were known as the 'strikers in saris'
Photograph: Peter Johns/Guardian

National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill joined demonstrators picketing the Grunwick film processing factory
Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Conservative MP John Gorst and George Ward, managing director of Grunwick photo-processing laboratory Ltd at a press conference in London during the industrial dispute, 1 September 1977
Photograph: Peter Cade/Getty Images

Arthur Scargill leading a 'day of solidarity' march
Photograph: PA

Some 40 weeks in to the strike, three government ministers joined the picket line - sport minister Denis Howell, education secretary Shirley Williams and defence secretary Fred Mulley
Photograph: PA Archive/Press Association Ima

23 August 1977. Mrs Jayaben Desai has been picketing for a year
Photograph: Graham Wood/Getty Images

21 November 1977. Ms Y Patel, Mrs Desai and Johnny Patel stage a hunger strike picket. In 1978, the strike fizzled out without achieveing its objective of management recognition of trade unions
Photograph: David Ashdown/Getty Images

Jayaben Desai today, with her friend Laxmiben. 'I am proud of what I did,' says Desai. 'They wanted to break us down, but we did not break.'
Photograph: Sarfraz Manzoor/Guardian