>What does the LISTSERV console log say about this?  It sounds to me like
>either the list file is unreadable or LISTSERV doesn't have permission
>to write to it.

LISTSERV has permission to read and write the file 'sigi-l.list'. There
were no error messages in the 'listserv.log' when I performed this test.
Only in three cases out of twenty-one, LISTSERV says

   "The SIGI-L list has been unlocked."

Copy of 'listserv.log' file which has been recorded during my test:

26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked. Do not attempt
                     to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been unlocked. It had been
                     locked since 100/01/2 17:59 (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked. Do not attempt
                     to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:29 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been unlocked.
                     It had been locked since 100/01/2 17:59 (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:30 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been unlocked.
                     It had been locked since 100/01/2 17:59 (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     get sigi-l (header
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 Mailed file "SIGI-L LIST" to:
                     > [log in to unmask]
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list has been locked.
                     Do not attempt to add recipients "on the (...)
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 From [log in to unmask]:
                     unlock sigi-l
26 Jan 2000 17:59:31 To   [log in to unmask]:
                     The SIGI-L list is not locked.
26 Jan 2000 17:59:32 Sent information mail to:
                     > [log in to unmask]

I did not perform this test just for fun. One of our list owners had this
problem a few weeks ago.

Siegfried