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Caterpillar workforce surprised by Israeli arms trade protest

Marita and Greg | 10.04.2005 20:21 | Liverpool

Workers arriving at the Caterpillar - Perkins site in Irlam, Greater Manchester this morning were surprised, first by a 30 foot yellow banner with an acrylic image of a Palestinian, head in hands, whose house is being demolished by a Cat bulldozer while an Israeli soldier stands guard.

The spray-painted text proclaims "Stop Caterpillar... Palestine... House Demolitions... Apartheid Wall... Perkins... 100% owned by Caterpillar... Israeli Tank Deal".

The banner flew from a mound of grass along the private road to the security gate, the only entrance this morning. Management had hunkered down on red alert with police and dogs on site since 2 a.m. expecting an invasion under cover of darkness, for some reason.

Drivers rounded the banner to be met by huge photos of armoured Caterpillar D9 bulldozers smashing into Palestinian houses, while children flee. Above the photos, the "Stop Caterpillar" logo.

Then came the megaphone, offering the slowing traffic soundbites on D9 demolitions and the "Apartheid Wall", and inviting them to stop and take a leaflet from protestors gathered in front of the security gate. Around 30 people had turned up from Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Brighton, converging on the gate at 6:30 a.m.

Irlam is the world distribution centre for Perkins diesel spares. Caterpillar bought Perkins in 1997. Perkins CV12 engines are incorporated in T72 tanks in a joint venture with the Israeli company NIMDA for re-export to the world market.

Irlam is also one of 3 Cat Logistics sites in the UK. Cat Logistics handles Caterpillar spares worldwide. A joint venture with Honeywell and BAe bid unsuccessfully for a logistics contract with the Australian Defence Forces.

Drivers now faced a choice - accelerate through the protest in full view of the cops, or drive safely and risk having to actually look someone in the face or even take a leaflet.

It was all too much for some - they kept their windows firmly sealed while staring straight ahead. Others were interested but scared that someone might notice, a few shouted at us and declined any discussion. But quite a number, especially those not driving a Jag, perhaps even walking to work, were curious enough to take our leaflet and the War on Want Shareholders anti-Report. Some knew nothing about their company's role in Palestine and thanked us for the information. Some knew of the issues and agreed with us completely. Some, it seems, were embarrassed to go into work through our line.

We were surprised by that, but even more so to discover that - apparently - the site is completely non-union. We began to encourage workers to join a union and take up their own issues.

To our knowledge this protest was the first to focus fully on the Caterpillar workforce, the people who could really put a stop to Cat's collaboration with ethnic cleansing in Palestine. It was a small first step.

Why not try it in your area?

Marita and Greg
e-mail: mcrsocialforum@hotmail.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

Well done

11.04.2005 14:07

Well done, I couldn't make it but wish I had - sounded very moving and non-preachy towards the workforce

sinister penguin

People who support sanctions

11.04.2005 15:31

for a Statement on Sanctions by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, see:

http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/icahd1.html

for material on Caterpillar produced by "Jewish Voice for Peace" see

http://www.catdestroyshomes.org

In other words, growing numbers of Jewish people, including Israeli Jews, are in favour of sanctions and are highlighting the role of Caterpillar.

The point to Friday's action was to take the issue to people who could really intervene.

Greg

p.s. for some photos of the demo see

http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0504/cat1.html

Greg

Solidarity from Chicago!

11.04.2005 17:27

This is great, congrats to our UK comrades in struggle!

Chicago area and Peoria activists have conducted similar outreach efforts at the manufacturing plants in Aurora and Peoria on a few different occasions and we have plans for increasing our activities in this regard in the future.

Stay informed by visiting:

http://www.stopcat.org

http://www.psghchicago.org

http://www.nwsustain.org

PSG
mail e-mail: info@psgchicago.org
Homepage: http://www.psgchicago.org

Great Stuff

13.04.2005 07:33

I'm gonna post this to the Indymedia radio news list to see if it can go out on the radio show later today, its an inspiring action.

imc-london-audio@lists.indymedia.org

It might get broadcast between 1 and 2pm on

http://www.resonancefm.com/ 104.4FM in London and hopefully find a wider audience.

:)

Jen

Jenny Singfield

radio and Chicago

13.04.2005 09:44

hi,

re radio - check out the video which is linked from the labournet version.

re Chicago - terrific. Try contacting Larry Duncan at LaborBeat (cable TV labor program) who may be interested in working with you, if he hasn't already done so.

solidarity,

greg

Greg

Inspiring video

13.04.2005 12:53

Thanks for the inspiring video. Here's a direct link to the video linked from labournet:

http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=opensource_movies&collectionid=Caterkiller

If anyone wants to know the location of their local Caterpillar/Perkins plant take a look at

http://www.caterkiller.com

Caterpillar and Perkins are also exhibitors at Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) which proclaims itself as "The World's Largest and Fastest Growing International Tri-Service Defence Exhibition".

For details on how to resist DSEi see Disarm DSEi:

http://www.disarm-trade.org/

Caterkiller you are the weakest link in the illegal occupation of Palestine
Homepage: http://www.caterkiller.com

Caterpillar aren't the only ones

17.08.2005 23:18

While any activity that destroys innocent lives and/or their lifestyles is abhorrent to me, do you think targetting a corporation like Caterpillar will make a difference? Please don't interpret this comment as critical of your protests against them - I agree that the destruction of life and homes in Palestine is wrong HOWEVER it is done and should be told to all those willing to listen. However, Caterpillar is one of hundreds of companies through out the world that sell their products anywhere they can and probably don't ask too many questions about what the end use will be for. Take a company like Land Rover - for nearly sixty years now Land Rover have been selling their products all over the world and nearly every army / terrorist organisation / militia will have used a Land Rover at some time to carry 'soldiers' to and from their battles - thus enabling them to carry out their job of death and destruction more effectively. And what if these soldiers decide to have a Coke after a hard day fighting and killing? Or if they wear Levi's? There must be a million and one companies out there that could be associated with these activities in Palestine in some way or another. But lets also remember, Land Rover also make ambulances, fire trucks, mountain rescue and coastguard vehicles - all with the intention of saving lives. Caterpillar vehicles have probably been used to clear away rubble from collapsed buildings (either earthquakes or human-induced incidences) in an attempt to save lives. They were more than likely used to build the very home you live in (if it is a modern one) or the roads you drive on. Will you stop living in your house if you knew this was the case, or stop driving to work?

Peter

Caterpillars kill caterpillars

28.06.2006 20:43

Of zillions of beings Caterpillars
are mindless killers
bulldozing Mother Earth tree pillars,
squirrels, frogs and caterpillars
creating unrooted mud
and tragic flood

O Anna Niemus

UK Indymedia