Re: [A-List] Fw: [targets-news] Anti-war train drivers refuse to move arms freight

["Annewilliamson" <Annewilliamson@xxxxxxx>]

As a former member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, my heart
swells with pride to read this.  Thanks, Christopher - A.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Black" <bar@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <a-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 10:36 AM
Subject: [A-List] Fw: [targets-news] Anti-war train drivers refuse to move
arms freight


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <redactie@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <targets-news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 3:41 AM
> Subject: [targets-news] Anti-war train drivers refuse to move arms freight
>
>
> > Anti-war train drivers refuse to move arms freight
> > By Kevin Maguire
> > Reprinted from 'The Guardian," Thursday January 9, 2003
> > [Posted 11 Janurary 2002]
> > ==========================================================
> >
> > [Note from Emperor's Clothes: Assuming that the claim by Railway
> > officials' that no work action took place is false - and this claim
> > certainly does seem to be false - then this news is most heartening:
> > ordinary people putting their jobs on the line to oppose the threat
> > of war.
> > - Jared Israel]
> >
> > ****
> >
> > Train drivers yesterday refused to move a freight train carrying
> > ammunition believed to be destined for British forces being deployed
> > in the Gulf.
> >
> > Railway managers cancelled the Ministry of Defence service after the
> > crewmen, described as "conscientious objectors" by a supporter, said
> > they opposed Tony Blair's threat to attack Iraq.
> >
> > The anti-war revolt is the first such industrial action by workers
> > for decades.
> >
> > The two Motherwell-based drivers declined to operate the train
> > between the Glasgow area and the Glen Douglas base on Scotland's west
> > coast, Europe's largest Nato weapons store.
> >
> > English Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS), which transports munitions
> > for the MoD as well as commercial goods, yesterday attempted to
> > persuade the drivers to move the disputed load by tomorrow.
> >
> > Leaders of the Aslef rail union were pressed at a meeting with EWS
> > executives to ask the drivers to relent. But the officials of a union
> > opposed to any attack on Iraq are unlikely to comply.
> >
> > The two drivers are understood to be the only pair at the Motherwell
> > freight depot trained on the route of the West Highland Line.
> >
> > An EWS spokesman declined to confirm the train had been halted,
> > although he insisted no drivers had refused to take out the trains.
> >
> > "We don't discuss commercial issues," he said.
> >
> > "The point about the two drivers is untrue and we don't discuss
> > issues about meetings we have."
> >
> > Yet his claim was flatly contradicted by a well-placed rail industry
> > source who supplied the Guardian with the train's reference number.
> >
> > The MoD later said it had been informed by EWS that mechanical
> > problems, caused by the cold winter weather, had resulted in the
> > train's cancellation.
> >
> > One solution under discussion yesterday between the MoD and EWS was
> > to transport the shipment by road to avoid what rail managers hoped
> > would be an isolated confrontation.
> >
> > Dockers went on strike rather than load British-made arms on to ships
> > destined for Chile after the assassination of leftwing leader
> > Salvador Allende in 1973.
> >
> > In 1920 stevedores on London's East India Docks refused to move guns
> > on to the Jolly George, a ship chartered to take weapons to anti-
> > Bolsheviks after the Russian revolution.
> >
> > Trade unions supporting workers who refuse to handle weapons could
> > risk legal action and possible fines for contempt of court.
> >
> > Lindsey German, convener of the Stop the War Coalition, said: "We
> > fully support the action that has been taken to impede an unjust and
> > aggressive war. We hope that other people around the country will be
> > able to do likewise."
> >
> > The anti-war group is organising a second national demonstration in
> > central London on Saturday February 15. Organisers claimed more than
> > 400,000 people attended a protest in September.
> >
> > (c) 2002 The Guardian * Posted for educational use only
> >
> > URL is http://emperors-clothes.com/news/brit-train.htm
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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> >
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