Vestas bosses win eviction order, but day of solidarity called for 12 August

Submitted by martin on 4 August, 2009 - 2:56 Author: Martin Thomas
Vestas

Several hundred Vestas workers and supporters gathered outside Newport courthouse on Tuesday 4 August as Vestas bosses made their second attempt to get a possession order against the workers occupying their wind turbine blade factory at St Cross, Newport.

That same morning, several activists had climbed to the roof of the smaller Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight, at East Cowes, to display a huge banner there reading: "Vestas workers' solidarity - In Occupation - Fight for green jobs".

As Steve Stotesbury, spokesperson for the Vestas workers' RMT committee, said outside the courthouse when the verdict was announced: "This campaign is far from over. We are not at the end of it. We are not at the beginning, either, but we are in the middle".

The courthouse protesters marched to the factory to continue the picket outside its front entrance. The granting of the eviction order does not mean that eviction is immediate, or that the occupiers have exhausted all non-violent ways of thwarting it.

As the BBC reports: "The firm will need to obtain a warrant before bailiffs can go in and evict those inside with 24 hours' notice. Newport County Court told the BBC Vestas had not yet applied for a warrant of possession. If the warrant is obtained, bailiffs will then need to be informed and give the protestors 24 hours' notice before going in".

Three or so of the occupiers did choose to leave the occupation on Tuesday 4 August - one had been planning to come out around then anyway, for personal reasons - but that was by agreement with the majority of the occupiers, who remain firm.

To get blades and equipment out of the occupied factory, Vestas bosses will still have to take them out through the "marine gate", a side-exit giving on to the River Medina, where they can be loaded onto barges to take them to Southampton.

The Vestas workers' RMT stewards have now made contact with Unite stewards at Southampton docks. Moreover, between the marine gate and the jetty lies a cycle path which is a public right of way... And the barges can operate only at high tide.

A national day of action in support of the Vestas workers has been called for Wednesday 12 August. Organise action in your city!

Comments

Submitted by Bruce on Tue, 04/08/2009 - 23:28

Following a successful rally a week ago, Manchester Trades Council called a meeting to set up a solidarity committee and to organise activities in Greater Manchester to support the Vestas workers.

About 40 people attended and we agreed on a number of activities.

We decided that if the Vestas workers occupying the plant are evicted, we will gather to protest on the same day at 5pm in Piccadilly Gardens and organise a protest at 8am the following day at Vestas HQ in Warrington. This Saturday (August 8th) we will be gathering at 1pm in Market Street, Manchester to run a stall where we will collect money and signatures on a petition to support Vestas. At 3pm we will march from Market Street to Piccadilly Gaardens where we will hold a rally.

Other activities planned include delegations to workplaces (hopefully with a Vestas worker), a social to raise money and the lobbying of MPs surgeries.

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