On 3 May 1977, the UUAC organised a general strike. It was seen by the public as "Paisley's strike", due to his prominent role in it.United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Summary of Events . Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014. The main aims of the strike were to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland under a system of simple majority (i.e. unionist) rule and to force the British Government to introduce tougher security measures against the IRA. As in 1974, loyalist paramilitaries tried to enforce the strike by blocking roads, intimidating workers and attacking businesses that refused to co-operate.United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Chronology of Events . Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014. However, unlike in 1974, many workers refused to join the strike and the security forces were better prepared. The Ulster Service Corps set up roadblocks and carried out patrols in rural areas. Some members carried guns, although these were generally legally-held firearms.Wood, Ian S., Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, p. 64 During a speech in the House of Commons, Paisley claimed to have taken part in some of these patrols and encouraged his supporters to join the group.Wood, Crimes of Loyalty, pp. 64–65 On 10 May, Protestant bus driver Harry Bradshaw was shot dead by loyalists for working during the strike, and UDR soldier John Geddis was killed when loyalists bombed a petrol station that had stayed open. That same day, Paisley, Baird and other members of the UUAC were arrested at a roadblock outside Ballymena. Paisley was charged with obstruction of the highway and then released.
On 3 May 1977, the UUAC organised a general strike. It was seen by the public as "Paisley's strike", due to his prominent role in it.United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Summary of Events . Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014. The main aims of the strike were to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland under a system of simple majority (i.e. unionist) rule and to force the Bri,tish Government to introduce tougher security measures against the IRA. As in 1974, loyalist paramilitaries tried to enforce the strike by blocking roads, intimidating workers and attacking businesses that refused to co-operate.United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (1977) – Chronology of Events . Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 22 September 2014. However, unlike in 1974, many workers refused to join the strike and the security forces were better prepared. The Ulster Service Corps set up roadblocks an!d carried out patrols in rural areas. Some members carried guns, although these were generally legally-held firearms.Wood, Ian S., Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, p. 64 During a speech in the House of Commons, Paisley claimed to have taken part in some of these patrols and encouraged his supporters to join the group.Wood, Crimes of Loyalty, pp. 64–65 On 10 May, Protestant bus driver Harry Bradshaw was shot dead by loyalists for working during the strike, and UDR soldier John Geddis was killed when loyalists bombed a petrol station that had stayed open. That same day, Paisley, Baird and other members of the UUAC were arrested at a roadblock outside Ballymena. Paisley was charged with obstruction of the highway and then released.