Occupation of Wind Turbine factory in the Isle of Wight

[El Rojo]

Around 7.30 last night, 25 workers occupied an office building of the Vestas wind turbine manufacturing complex. This move was made in response to announcements that the factory would be closed, costing the Isle of Wight 625 jobs, allegedly the island's largest employer and the only wind turbine factory in the United Kingdom.

Reasons cited for the closure have ranged from "lack of demand", "a lack of political initiatives", "and the difficulties of manufacturing in the United Kingdom." This after the the government pledged to create 400,000 green jobs.


What one can do:


Send messages of support from yourself or your organisation to [email protected]
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




I can't put links up because my post count isnt high enough. :cursing: can someone else put some up por favor?

[bellyscratch]

Check out this thread
http://www.revleft.com/vb/green-into-red-t113049/index.html?t=113049

[El Rojo]

25 posts, i can put up links. sooound


http://savevestas.wordpress.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8160331.stm
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18498
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/21/wind-turbine-factory-occupation

[Sasha]

1) VESTAS FACTORY OCCUPATION - SOLIDARITY UPDATE
2) STATEMENT FROM INSIDE THE FACTORY
3) CALLOUT FROM SOME CLIMATE CAMPERS ON THE ISLAND
4) GETTING TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT - PRACTICAL INFO

************************************************

1) VESTAS FACTORY OCCUPATION - SOLIDARITY UPDATE

The occupation of the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight is
continuing. Workers are fighting back against the bosses plans to cut 600
jobs at the end of the month, and have been occupying the factory since
Monday despite attempts to cut off their food and threaten them with
redundancy.

GET DOWN TO THE ISLAND
The best way to support the occupation is to get down to the Isle of
Wight. Climate campers have joined co-workers, families, residents, trade
unionists and other climate activists outside the factory since the
occupation began. Travel instructions are below. There's a demonstration
in Newport on Friday evening:

Friday 24th July, 5.30pm in Newport
St. Thomas Square, Newport, Isle of Wight

THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU'RE PACKING FOR THE ISLAND:

- Visit the Save Vestas website:
http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://savevestas.wordpress.com/

- Join the Save Vestas Blades UK Facebook group:
http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55989366737

- Follow them on Twitter:
http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://twitter.com/savevestas

- Sign the Save Vestas No. 10 petition:
http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveVestas/

- Reply to Ed Miliband:
http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/jul/23/ed-miliband-vestas-wind-power

************************************************

2) STATEMENT FROM INSIDE THE FACTORY

23/7/09:
‘Another eventful day yesterday as everyone knows from yesterday’s
newsletter, Vestas imposed a food ban but they didn’t stop our great
supporters getting food to us and in the right way, walking calmly and
peacefully and throwing food to us, thanks guys.

Despite Paddy Wier being in meetings for most of the day yesterday with
other senior management, the network reps and the island’s MP Andrew
Turner, it seems they appeared to have achieved very little, their only
option was to issue a last chance ultimatum for the fourth time, ‘come out
or lose your jos and your redundancy’ to which we declined. Afterwards we
recieved a letter from Paddy Wier stating we are now liable for temination
and no redundancy package.

Vestas are however allowing us some food, as from today Vestas have stated
they will supply us food but they will not allow any outside food onto the
premises.

The rally at 6pm last night was very sucessful it was great to see so many
people showing their support and a big thanks to everyone out there
organising these events.

All our supporters are doing a fantastic job and it is you guys who are
going to win this for us and with all the hard work and support and the
huge publicity we are generating it shouldn’t take too long.’

http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://savevestas.wordpress.com/

************************************************

3) CALLOUT FROM SOME CLIMATE CAMPERS ON THE ISLAND

*More Campers needed at Vestas*

On Tuesday a handful of Climate Campers arrived at the support camp
outside Vestas at Newport around midnight. Within hours we had set up a
camp and attempted to deliver food to the occupiers by one of us sneaking
into bushes and making a mad dash for the rope which hung from the balcony
of the administrative block, where the workers are in occupation of the
factory. This daring-do was hugely appreciated and built good relations
with both the occupiers and their supporters. They could not believe that
these unknown folk were willing to face arrest in solidarity with the
workers.

From 11 o'clock onwards, Campers helped initiate a mass 'pastie' trepass
in a bid to deliver food again. Climate activists, united with workers,
their families, trade unionists, workers liberty and the socialist
workers, marched calmly over the police line and began delivering food to
the occupiers, facing down police and private security. It was this
delivery of food that did three things: buoyed the workers in occupation,
radicalised their supporters, and forced the company to erect harris
fences all around the entrance. We were also, through the arrest in the
early hours, a key part in getting the national media to pay attention.

It's one of the most exciting moments in climate change history. Climate
activists are united with workers in their bid to save green jobs. The
workers in occupation are in their 20s, are not unionised, and are
genuinely committed to the role that wind has to play in stopping climate
change. They are proud of their jobs and see their role in the climate
change fight as a motivator for this struggle too. We have a lot in common
with these lovely brave blokes. This is our opportunity to show we care
about all classes and see green employment as fundamental to stopping
climate change.

When we left last night there were others coming to the camp. And there
are 3 tents left there for people to sleep in. One reads 'Climate Camp is
with you'. But I am aware that those down there cannot stay forever. We
URGENTLY need more people to go, taking with them everything that Camp is
- especially entertainment such as instruments, art materials, games for
those outside supporting and a radical commitment to support the workers
through direct action.

We went to the Camp at an Industrial Estate on Dodnor Lane, via East Cowes
on the ferry from Southampton, two hours from London. But you can also go
from Portsmouth to Ryde: http://www.indymedia.nl/images/extlink.gif http://www.wightlink.co.uk/

Please keep up the presence! It's really an amazing place to be.

************************************************

4) GETTING TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT – PRACTICAL INFO

If you want to go to the Isle of Wight and join the campaign there, as
many activists from around the country have already done:

National Express coaches go London to Southampton every hour, with
funfares from £5 booking online.
Megabus coaches go London to Southampton at 08:39, 10:39, 12:39. 14:39,
16:00 and 21:39, with prices from £6 (the 16:00 ones tend to be the
cheapest).

Both arrive at the National Express station on Harbour Parade in
Southampton, about ten minutes walk from the Isle of Wight ferry terminal
(the Red Funnel terminal). To get to the terminal:

1. Head south on Harbour Parade. Go through 1 roundabout.

2. Turn left at A3057/W Quay Rd. Continue to follow A3057. Go through 1
roundabout

3. Turn right at Bugle Street. Destination will be on the left

Red Funnel ferries cost £7 at the desk, and from £4 booking in advance
online. When you arrive on the Island, take the chain ferry from East
Cowes to Cowes, then the No. 1 bus to Newport from the stop on Newport Rd.

[PRC-UTE]

good luck to them. it's great to see they're putting out a call for more supporters to come and camp :cool:

[RED DAVE]

May I ask what attempts, if any, have been made to link up with unionists around the country and with the organized left. This could provide some consistent support.

This is the third occupation that I know of. There was one in Chicago last December, the Waterford occupation in Ireland, one in Belfast and now this.

RED DAVE

[pastradamus]

May I ask what attempts, if any, have been made to link up with unionists around the country and with the organized left. This could provide some consistent support.

This is the third occupation that I know of. There was one in Chicago last December, the Waterford occupation in Ireland, one in Belfast and now this.

RED DAVE

There was also one in Cork :D

[cyu]

This is the third occupation that I know of. There was one in Chicago last December, the Waterford occupation in Ireland, one in Belfast and now this.

Productive Takeovers

Argentina: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1875/1/

Indonesia: http://www.marxist.com/pt-istana-factory-occupied.htm

Nepal: http://neilsnepal.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/somewhere-lenin-is-smiling/

Occupation without Production

Britain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUXFyoLgmRE

Canada: http://www.marxist.com/canadian-workers-occupy-auto-factory.htm

China: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Violent_unrest_rocks_China_as_crisis_hits/articleshow/4059496.cms

Scotland: http://swindonanarchistgroup.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/workers-launch-co-operative-to-run-business-without-bosses/

USA: http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/1506/1/

USA: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/hartmarx-workers-vote-sit-save-their-jobs-tarp-recipient-wells-fargo-threatens-close-obama-s

USA: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/rochester-hickey-freeman-workers-vote-stage-sit-if-bailed-out-bank-attempts-close-company

Resistance to Security Forces

Greece: http://libcom.org/news/bosses-attack-militant-cleaners-syndicalist-vitriolic-acid-athens-protest-march-occupation-

South Korea: http://libcom.org/news/pyeongtaek-strike-continues-south-korea-21062009

[revolution inaction]

This is the third occupation that I know of. There was one in Chicago last December, the Waterford occupation in Ireland, one in Belfast and now this.


there's been more than 3, there's a few articles about occupations here (http://libcom.org/tags/occupations)

[RED DAVE]

Thanx to all for the info on occupations. We probably need a thread on this.

RED DAVE

[cyu]

Excerpts from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12440

The growth of worker-owned-and-controlled businesses (While some still claim that There Is No Alternative (TINA) to state-corporate capitalism (the "free market"), others attempt to "build the structure of the new society in the shell of the old.")
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/11942 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/11942)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/11972 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/11972)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12069 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12069)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12131 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12131)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12177 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12177)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12207 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12207)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12306 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12306)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12308 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12308)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12333 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12333)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12347 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12347)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12348 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12348)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12352 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12352)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12353 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12353)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12354 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12354)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12355 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12355)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12387 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12387)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12398 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12398)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12399 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12399)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12405 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12405)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12431 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12431)

Brazil's Landless Movement Turns 25
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12097 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12097)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12182 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/12182)

[Manzil]

May I ask what attempts, if any, have been made to link up with unionists around the country and with the organized left. This could provide some consistent support.
RED DAVE

I'm on the Isle of Wight for the summer at the moment.

The RMT union have basically been the major bedrock of union support. Prior to the occupation, Vestas was overwhelmingly non-union. Since Bob Crow and the RMT full-timers arrived - they've been pretty much the only visible show of support, for what is an illegal action and therefore scares the bejeezus out of the union bureaucrats - this has changed and the workers have been joining up. The big unions' leaderships (Unite etc.) have been calling on the government to intervene, staging support and so on, but the RMT are the main force on the ground.

It's been a magnificent display of militancy, but of course the involvement of the Crow lot has also changed the atmosphere somewhat. It hasn't helped that the most militant, political workers have been stuck occupying the plant... One of the ironies of the situation!

Regarding the organised left, I know people from the Socialist Party in Southampton and Portsmouth (cities just on the other side of the Solent from the IoW) have been very active on the island, especially as Vestas employs a good hundred people in Southampton too who are currently faced with the sack. I've been told the workers have been very welcoming of the lefties coming to help which is a good sign. There are quite a few people from the Socialist Party and the SWP selling their papers, etc. not just at Vestas but in the bigger towns (an unusual sight around these parts, I assure you), and I've seen reports from members of the Alliance for Workers' Liberty on the island, although I've not encountered them at the factory site.

I'm biased, but the Socialist Party in particular have been very impressive, as with the Lindsey oil strikes and so forth, in taking the workers as they were (non-union, conservative area, no history of leftism) and basically encouraging them, helping organise them, rallying support on the mainland etc.