Vestas

Following the breaking-up of the blade blockade at the marine gate of the Vestas wind turbine blade factory at Newport, Isle of Wight, workers are debating how to take forward their campaign for green jobs. At roughly 6.20 on the morning of Tuesday 22 September, a force of around 120 Hampshire police descended on the Isle of Wight and stormed the encampment which was being used by workers and supporters to block the movement of blades. The Isle of Wight council came out in support of the Vestas management despite face-saving noises of sympathy for the workers they had previously made: they...

Vestas bosses have finally moved some of the wind-turbine blades which have been trapped in its Newport (Isle of Wight) factory since workers occupied to stop the factory closure, between 20 July and 7 August. Police invaded the "camp" at the marine gate of the factory to clear the way. One barge-full of blades has been taken. Vestas bosses will presumably try to take the rest later today, or tomorrow. Ed Maltby reports from the Isle of Wight (22 September): Arriving from London at 4am on 22 September, I went to bed in one of the tents at the marine gate of the Newport factory. There were...

Today, 22 September, is the day when Vestas bosses will try to move blades from the Newport factory. Police forcibly cleared workers and supporters overnight from the camp at the marine gate. The barges to carry the blades are expected at noon. Join workers and supporters on the cycle path outside the marine gate to protest! Nine blades, worth about £700,000, have been stuck in the factory since Vestas workers occupied the factory, to stop closure and save the jobs, on 20 July. The occupiers were evicted on 7 August, but workers and supporters have been blockading the factory since then...

On 16 September Vestas bosses moved to attempt legal action against the blockade by workers and supporters at the "marine gate" of its wind-turbine blade factory at Newport, Isle of Wight. That indicates that the bosses are feeling the pressure. The "marine gate" is being blockaded to stop Vestas shipping out nine wind turbine blades, worth £700,000, that were left in the factory when workers occupied on 20 July to stop its closure. The occupiers, who demanded that Vestas hand over the factory for nationalisation to save the jobs, were evicted on 7 August, but workers and supporters have...

Petition to save the jobs at the Vestas wind turbine blade factories. Download pdf (see "attachment"). Or click here to sign online .

10 September: Vestas Blade Blockade Steps Up The Pressure By Setting Up A Tripod at Sunrise After more than a week of blockading the Vestas factory in Newport, Isle Of Wight, a tripod has now been erected at the marine gate preventing blades from leaving the factory. A worker from the original occupation is standing on top of the tripod enjoying a stunning view of sunrise over the River Medina. This inspirational addition to the blockade followed a day of police intimidation that included one arrest and one person being banned from the site after receiving a dispersal order. Blockaders have...

Ian Terry, one of the workers who occupied the factory from 20 July to 7 August, spoke to Solidarity on 9 September. We're stopping the blades from going out from the St Cross factory because we believe they're our blades, from our factory, and we would like to see them put up in our country. I think it's difficult to stop them getting out, but people are motivated to do it. We're getting more and more people each day willing to help us, as local people walk past the picket [which is on the cycle path from Newport to Cowes] and talk to us about it. I also want to see an overall fight for jobs...

Vestas bosses moved four wind turbine blades from their Venture Quays factory, in East Cowes, on Friday 4 September, but backed off from moving the nine blades in the St Cross factory, in Newport, after workers and supporters picketed the "marine gate" there. The blades are those left unfinished when workers occupied the factory on 20 July to oppose Vestas bosses' plans to close the factories - Britain's only wind-turbine blade factories - and to demand that the Government nationalise the factories, upgrade the production processes, and save the jobs. Since bailiffs evicted the occupiers on 7...

Vestas bosses moved four wind turbine blades from their Venture Quays factory, in East Cowes, on Friday 4 September, but backed off from moving the nine blades in the St Cross factory, in Newport, after workers and supporters picketed the "marine gate" there. The blades are those left unfinished when workers occupied the factory on 20 July. After bailiffs evicted the occupiers on 7 August, workers continued picketing the factory against the movement of those blades and other materials from the site. The blades have to go by barge, within about two hours either side of high tide ( click here...

Vestas bosses are probably going to try to move wind turbine blades on Friday 4 September, from their factory at St Cross industrial estate, Newport, Isle of Wight. Workers are rallying to picket the movement. The blades are those left unfinished when workers occupied the factory on 20 July. After bailiffs evicted the occupiers on 7 August, workers continued picketing the factory against the movement of those blades and other materials from the site. Our information is that Vestas bosses now have the blades ready to move, and have given starting order to the two barges which transport the...