> Subject: [NCAN] British rail workers refuse to move war cargo > > > > HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK > > --------------------------- > > > > > > > > Anti-war train drivers refuse to move arms freight > > Kevin Maguire > > Thursday January 9, 2003 > > The Guardian > > > > 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. > > > > > > Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003 > > --------------------------- > > > > > > To post to everyone on this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >
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