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Save jobs at Vestas, save the planet!
Report received from a campaigner on the Isle of Wight, Monday 20 July:
"Vestas workers have occupied the St Cross factory in Newport. This measure has been taken due to the consistent failure of Vestas Blades and the government to face up to their responsibilities in the necessary challenge of fighting climate change and maintaining jobs.
"Due to management attempting to intimidate the workers who have been organising themselves in preparation for a fight, plans to move on the factory were accelerated and a team of workers have taken the plant at 7:45 this evening as a result.
"Now more than ever Vestas workers need our support. The island does not have a history of workers taking action – this could be the first of many victories where workers take control of their industries and demand that the bosses put people before profit, the environment before opportunism."
Background:
Most of the residents of the Isle of Wight are supporting the campaign by a number of Vestas workers, the island's trades councils and the Workers' Climate Action group to keep two wind turbine blade factories open.
The factories are owned by Vestas Blades UK, part of a multinational company. Vestas is highly profitable but the company doesn't want to invest in machinery to upgrade the factories, and they can make bigger profits elsewhere, so they are bailing out of the UK - and their home country Denmark where more than a thousand jobs have gone already.
The campaigners on the Isle of Wight are calling on the government to intervene - to nationalise if necessary - to save the 600 jobs at Vestas, Isle of Wight and the further jobs on the island that will be lost if Vestas closes. For an investment of £51 million they could have state-of-the-art factories producing wind turbine blades for the massive expansion of wind energy they have been talking about. The South East England Development Agency has acquired land on the island to build sustainable industries - they could step in to invest in Vestas. When Vestas pulled out of a factory in Scotland recently, the Scottish Government stepped in to offer financial assistance and facilitate a takeover by another company, safeguarding 100 jobs and holding out the prospect of more jobs being created in the future.
How to help:
Visit the campaign blog (sometimes down due to heavy demand) - savevestas.wordpress.com
Send messages of support from yourself or your organisation to savevestas@googlemail.com.
Send a donation from your trade-union or other organisation, or make a personal donation: cheques payable to Ryde and East Wight Trades Union Council, 22 Church Lane, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NB
Petition energy minister Ed Miliband. His e-address is ps.ed.miliband@decc.gsi.gov.uk. His phone number in his Doncaster constituency is 01302 875 462, and at Westminster, 020 7219 4778. Flood him with calls for the Government to take over the Vestas factory and keep it producing, under new management.
Organise a visible demonstration of solidarity. Take a photo with a placard that reads “Save Vestas” and email the photo to savevestas@gmail.com. |
