



March in support of the Vestas workers, Isle of Wight, July 24, 2009. Videos from Seize the Day (top) and Ventnor Blog.

Vestas workers should think about standing as worker-politicians

By Ryde Trades Council, England

http://savevestas.wordpress.com -- July 27, 2009 -- Many are talking about the ineptness of New Labour, epitomised by its spokesperson on climate, Ed Miliband. Not only has the Labour government shown to be dissonant, with its mixed messages on climate change, but also exposed by its rhetoric. This is definitely a consequence of the actions of the Vestas workers.

Listening to these bright young speakers [from among the Vestas workers] who have indeed shown their personalities and their eloquence in recent speeches and interviews, they have also shown their ability to become political and argue deftly with these so-called experts. The solutions espoused by these contemporaries are embarrassing to the political “experts” and put them in the shadows. It is not only New Labour who fail but also the rest of the cartel parties who sing off the same songsheet. Not one of the mainstream parties speaks for the workers or the island or indeed the country but are all shown only to be sympathetic to big business.

It is not unreasonable to appreciate the potential. It is not without credence to consider these young workers as future independent worker-politicians. There are many examples where campaigners for hospitals or schools have stood in their constituencies for what they believe in. It is for this reason that Vestas workers should consider standing in the coming general election, selected by their peers and voted for by Isle of Wight citizens. People are looking for an alternative to the parties of the status quo. These young people are developing many ideas and putting forward many solutions in favour of ordinary people as far ranged as the environmental integrity of the planet.

These workers have engaged in the act of finding out about things by engaging in a very practical struggle, which is bearing a complexity of fruit. What they are discovering in all of this is that the most important factor is the human factor. Vestas is just a name, a name of a company that acquired a space with some means of production inside of it; the real value in the production of wind turbines has been the skills of the workforce and their social productivity.

It is the consciousness of the human factor and the consciousness of what could be achieved that has a growing confidence about itself. It is the confidence that expresses itself in the belief that it is not only that production of wind turbines can continue, but it probably will continue in a different way than what it was before and in such a way that the workers previously known as Vestas workers will have more freedom in the decision-making process to become free workers who are the motive force to recommence production.

Vestas has been shown up for being authoritarian and dismissive of its workforce. The government and the powers that be have also tried to be as dismissive of the actions that have taken place. This state of affairs has been challenged by the workers and has inspired and led others in similar positions. The workers have taken a step towards liberating themselves and upholding their dignity and the dignity of labour – this must go further.

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Mike Bradley, one of the Vestas occupiers, addressed the rally outside the factory on July 24 after the march. Praising those still inside, he said that “They’ve shown everybody on this Island that it’s possible to defend jobs”. “The Labour government should be utterly ashamed” he said. “This is a fight that can be won,” finishing with “If you roll over, you lose. If you fight, you win.” Audio from Ventnor Blog.

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July 22, 2009 -- The madness of the capitalist market has yet again been starkly exposed as -- in the midst of the planet's worst environmental crisis, global warming -- workers at Britain's only factory building wind turbines have been forced to occupy their plant to prevent its closure and save their jobs.

The July 21 Morning Star reports that the workers are demanding that Britain's Labour government nationalise the plant. The workers' report that they have been beseiged by riot police, who are attempting to starve the occupiers out by preventing locals aand climate campaigners from delivering food and supplies.

The workers' website explains:

Vestas Blades UK on the Isle of Wight is due to close on July 31. Six hundred jobs will be lost immediately, many more jobs that depend on Vestas will follow. This makes no sense from a green or a labour perspective! The government has just announced a major expansion of renewable energy including wind power. We are calling on Vestas to keep the factories open, saving jobs and offering those who want to leave a better redundancy deal. We are calling on the government to intervene to save jobs at Vestas -- through nationalisation if that is what it takes -- to show that it is serious about saving the planet.

Morning Star reports: Production workers launched their occupation of the Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight in protest against the bosses' attempts to close down one of the island's largest workplaces and throw staff on the dole at the end of the month.

Vestas workers are fighting for jobs and the environment. Photo from http://savevestas.wordpress.com/

Executives at the multinational Danish firm claim that they have "lost faith" in the government's promise of huge investments in renewable energy and will now move the production of wind turbine blades to factories in the US and China.

But their staff are determined to resist, pledging to continue the occupation "for as long as it takes" -- even as their bosses imposed a lock out on the remaining production workers at the site.

"We are fighting for our jobs and a greener environment", a statement from the Vestas workers declared. "As workers at a wind turbine manufacturer, we were confident that, as the recession took hold, green or renewable energy would be the area where many jobs could be created, not lost.

"We want the government to nationalise the company and stick to its word because it has stated that it wants to create as many green jobs as possible, but so far the government seems quite happy to let this factory close."

Speaking to the Morning Star from inside the occupied factory, Mark -- who did not want to give his full name for fear of reprisals -- stressed that the staff had "done everything that management asked, keeping up the quality of the work so that Vestas would continue to invest in the plant."

Mark related that he had been making wind turbine blades for seven years."I have a family, a 14-month-old daughter and I've lived on the island all my life, but, despite making more than £350 million profits last year, our bosses want to add us to the already dire unemployment figures on the island."

He revealed that Vestas was "strongly anti-union -- management ask people at their interviews whether they are a union member or not -- and have refused to talk to us about what they intend to do, which is one of the reasons we have occupied the place."

On July 20, police were surrounded the factory while Vestas bosses called in private security guards and cut phone and internet communication to the site in an attempt to intimidate the workers.

But support from the local community has poured in, with residents passing food and blankets to those inside. Ryde and East Wight Trades Council secretary Tony Kelly urged trade unionists to support the occupation, pointing out that "the loss of these jobs would be a hard blow anywhere in Britain but, because the Isle of Wight has had no investment in the last decade, there are no other jobs."

Visteon car workers, who won their fight for redundancy pay after staging similar factory occupations, have also sent messages of solidarity, while the Campaign Against Climate Change echoed the Vesta workers' demand for nationalisation, insisting that the government "should take over the plant and restart production".

What you can do

Send messages of support from yourself or your organisation to savevestas@googlemail.com.

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

, 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.

. 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. Visit the workers' wbsite at http://savevestas.wordpress.com/ and pass onword of their struggle.

Vestas workers dig their heels in

By John Millington

The Camp for Climate Action show their solidarity for the Vestas workers. pic: http://savevestas.wordpress.com

Unions and climate change campaigners have joined forces in solidarity with Vestas workers in their second day of occupation at the factory on the Isle of Wight.

Vestas employers are keen to move production abroad to China and the US with the loss of 625 jobs, despite making over £34 million profit in the first quarter of this year alone - up 70 per cent on last year.

But the defiant workers at the wind turbine production plant showed no signs of backing down until their demands for nationalisation and restoration of their "green jobs" at the plant are implemented.

A 200-strong picket line has massed outside the factory in support of the occupation.

In response to the show of strength by the workers, Vestas management have closed the factory and hired a private security firm to "protect the premises."

The anti-union employer stepped up the blockade by cutting communication lines and access to food and water.

Even though no crime has been committed on the site, Hampshire Police have set up an "operations base" in the building where the occupying workers are holed up.

The workforce have accused the police of being complicit in stopping food and water from reaching them.

Police arrested a man on suspicion of breach of the peace as he tried to enter the building in the early hours to deliver food to the workers but released him without charge.

But a mass walk-in from supporting protesters outside the plant made it inside this afternoon to get food to the workers.

Floods of support have poured in from all over Britain, with trade unions and climate change activists eager to show solidarity.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow declared the union's "full support" for the occupation and urged the entire trade union movement to get behind the Vestas workers.

"Nothing underlines the attack on job and communities that has been unleashed in the UK by greedy bosses and incompetent politicians better than the occupation at Vestas," he said.

Mr Crow underlined the importance of the occupation and agreed with the workers' calls for nationalisation.

But the RMT leader, who plans to address workers at the factory gates today, questioned why the police had such a heavy presence at the site.

"Why is the state intervening in what is a perfectly legitimate trading dispute?

"This is a major issue for whole trade union movement - we can't allow these workers to be starved back to work," he said.

"There's a simple solution to this dispute. The government should nationalise the factory, protect the jobs and show that they are walking the walk when it come to green and renewable energy."

Unite national secretary for manufacturing John Rowse urged the government to save Vestas.

"It would send out a clear message that it is serious about saving the environment as well as supporting UK manufacturing," he said.

Climate change campaigners staged a rally against the closure outside the Department of Energy in central London in support of the occupation.

Support for Vestas staff rises

Hampshire police said two men were arrested close to the Vestas Wind Systems site on Tuesday night following three arrests earlier that day.

The latest arrests were of a 41-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage and a 23-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence.

The sit-in is part of a bid to save the factory from closure next week with the loss of over 600 jobs.

The Danish owners of the factory have erected a fence around the site in response to a growing protest by environmental and climate change demonstrators.

Workers said the fence had been built to stop food or drink being sent in, leading to complaints that the company's action was illegal.

"It's appalling," said one of the workers. "We are convinced this is against the Human Rights Act because we are being denied humanitarian aid.

"But the more the management try to flush us out, the more determined we are to dig in our heels."

The occupiers were backed by Labour MP John McDonnell, convener of the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group. "These workers are at the forefront of the struggle to save their jobs and our planet," he said.

"The TUCG stands shoulder-to-shoulder with this occupation and calls for full support and solidarity with this vitally important campaign."

The TUCG comprises eight unions - the RMT, PCS, BFAWU, FBU, NAPO, NUJ, POA and URTU.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, who was scheduled to visit the site last night, said: "We know from this company is aggressively anti-union and the TUCG salutes the courage of those who have taken the brave decision to occupy the factory. They deserve the full support of the whole trade union movement."

PCS assistant general secretary Chris Baugh called on the government to intervene "to save the plant in the interests of the Vestas workers, the regional economy on the Isle of Wight and the future of the renewables industry in the UK."

Vestas turbine staff get RMT help

Morning Star -- The Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) has pledged legal assistance to workers occupying a wind-turbine factory on the Isle of Wight.

Around 25 workers have been occupying the Vestas Wind Systems plant on the island in a bid to stop the factory closing next week with the loss of hundreds of jobs. Dozens of climate change and environmental activists have also set up a camp outside the site in support of the workers. The workers have been told that the Danish owners will go to court next week to seek a possession order to stop the occupation. In addition to promising legal help for the workers, RMT also called for talks with Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband to try to save the factory. General secretary Bob Crow, who visited the site this week, said the union was also making arrangements to get food, water and other supplies into the factory. This might include the use of a helicopter, to prevent the workers from being "starved into submission." "The whole of the trade union and environmental movement should be proud of the courage and determination being shown by the workers at Vestas in the teeth of threats and intimidation," he said. "We all have a duty to ensure they are not beaten into submission." One of the workers within the plant commented: "People are coming along to show their support and that means a lot to us, the more support we get the better. "Hopefully people will come along and see us because it's all very important, this is for the island and we have to save these jobs, there's lots of families affected." Tracy Ferne from the Camp for Climate Action said that people were angry at the treatment of the workers at the hands of the police, Vestas management "and the government's empty renewables rhetoric." She was scathing about Mr Miliband's claim that there would be a huge investment in the renewables industry and 600,000 new green jobs. "It's all talk," Ms Ferne said. "The government is not pledging any money to save 600 genuine green jobs now."

Hundreds rally in support of Vestas occupation

By Tom Walker on the Isle of Wight

Socialist Worker (Britain) -- July 25, 2009 -- More than 400 people rallied outside the occupied Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight tonight after a march from Newport town centre. The workers have now been in occupation for four days in the fight to save their jobs.

Ed Rooksby, a teacher in the NUT union from near Southampton, told Socialist Worker, “I’m actually on holiday but I’m a socialist so I thought I ought to turn up. The government proclaims its green credentials. If it’s serious about them it should nationalise the factory rather than let it got to the wall.”

Andy Woodhouse, a Newport water worker and a member of the GMB union, said, “Six hundred jobs is a huge loss to the island. We don’t get many people protesting here. A lot of people on the Isle of Wight are retired and affluent. That’s why we’ve got a Tory council and a Tory MP. To get this many on a protest at such sort notice is great. It shows that some of us do care.”

Matt, an unemployed person from Portsmouth, said, “I’ve come to show solidarity. It’s about renewable energy. We need more wind power not less. And it’s about 600 jobs.”

As the march moved off protesters chanted, “Save our Vestas. Save our jobs.” One protester held up a cardboard wind turbine. Placards read, “More wind, less talk” and “Green jobs now.”

Cathy Tyler, a charity worker from Wooton on the island, said, “The government will save the banks but not the industries that can save the planet. The occupation is the best thing that’s happened to the Isle of Wight in the 27 years I’ve lived here. We’ve surely got the whole of the Isle of Wight’s socialist movement here today.”

Cohan Tyler, who is 14, said “I went up to London with my cousin to a meeting about Vestas. I’m trying to get others at my school to support the campaign for weeks. It’s an amazing cause. It’s 600 jobs here and it’s the only wind turbine factory in the whole country. It’s about protecting our future.”

Steve, a Vestas worker who has been elected to represent the occupation, told the rally, “Management have tried to bully the occupation into submission but it isn’t moving. They tried to starve them out but that didn’t work. They cut the power, but that disb’t work. Our message is, ‘No more games.’ We’re hitting the company where it hurts—in the pocket.”

Since the occupation began Vestas’s share price has fallen almost 7 per cent. Management have asked the occupiers for files from inside. The occupiers have said they’ll pass the files over in exchange for one hot meal. Throughout the rally the crowd broke into chants of, “One hot meal.”

Mark Chiverton, from Isle of Wight Unison union, told the crowd, “Everyone is inspired by the people on the plant’s balcony. I know how hard it is to get people to take action. Three weeks ago I was quite sceptical about the idea of an occupation. But each night support for this campaign is growing. This is a message that is going out worldwide.”

Mark Stringer, who had been one of the occupiers, told the rally, “I’ve got involved because I knew my chances of getting another job on the island were next to zero. I’ve got a family to feed. The atmosphere inside is one of solidarity. The management tried their bullying tactics but after a while they saw the occupation was there to stay.”

Maddie, from the Camp for Climate Action, said, “Moving to low carbon energy source like wind is vital if we’re going to tackle climate change. But there’s a question where that change is going to come from. This occupation shows that it needs to come from the workers not the bosses.”

Workers and supporters believe that the occupation can win. Another demonstration is planned for 6pm on Saturday, outside the factory. Campaigners are urging people to come to the Isle of Wight to join the constant camp and the picket outside the plant.

Finally, one hot meal



July 26, 2009 -- http://savevestas.wordpress.com/ -- Yesterday [Saturday, July 25] was fairly quiet for the early part of the day. Spirits were still high inside after the previous evening’s march and rally and the deliveries by tennis ball of tobacco, papers and most importantly the equipment needed to get them internet access inside. The police and security are a bit more relaxed now and the tennis balls that fell short were thrown up to the workers by some of the security guards. No one is being arrested as yet for trespassing on the waste ground next to the factory where the balls are slung in from.