Hi there, I am a former employee of Arconic at the Kitts Green site which has today, on the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, been taken over by some of the brave members of Palestine Action. I just wanted to write a statement to describe some of the effects and implications that this direct action will have on disrupting the supply chains of the military industrial complex and ultimately protecting our vulnerable brothers and sisters in Palestine and throughout the world.
The Kitts Green site specialises in producing aircraft grade aluminium and counts a number of defence companies as major customers. From a supply chain perspective this site in particular is extremely strategically important. It is one of the major sites for aircraft grade aluminium production in the UK and probably throughout the whole of Europe and its importance in this regard cannot be underestimated. It operates 24 hours a day 364 days a year to ensure that supply of these materials can meet the demand of warmongers, continue the oppression of not only Palestinians but also many other subjugated and disenfranchised people throughout the world, and ensure that the money keeps flowing in.
When I worked there in the shipping department, packaging and labelling aluminium plates to be sent around the world, I often prepared packages for companies such as BAE systems and Airbus. Airbus proudly state on their website “In today’s increasingly complex threat environment, Airbus brings interoperable and collaborative solutions to ensure superiority for combat systems across the five operational domains: land, air, sea, space and cyber.” Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft produced by Airbus have been used to take part in indiscriminate bombings of civilians throughout the middle east and the superiority they refer to is painfully obvious for the people of Palestine.
We should also remember that the government has failed to hold Arconic to account for the tragedy of Grenfell and I am glad that today Palestine Action can at least draw our attention back to the issue. For each day that this factory is shut down it will cost Arconic’s shareholders huge sums of money in lost revenue and will disrupt the supply chains of the war machine.
Grenfell and the brutal military action in Palestine are inextricably linked. Not only through the fact that aluminium manufactured in our own back garden was present on both occasions but also because of the attitude that they demonstrate. Some lives are worth considerably more than others and as long as the money keeps rolling in no one really gives a fuck.
I stand with Palestine Action and you should too.
Written by a former Arconic employee