Events

HELP THE VESTAS FACTORY OCCUPATION

TELL THE GOVERNMENT WE NEED THOSE GREEN JOBS

Workers at the Vestas Wind Turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have occupied their factory. They are fighting for 600 jobs and the future of the planet. They need help now. Updates on Twitter.

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Around 200 people gathered outside DECC (Ed Miliband's Department of Energy and Climate Change) to protest against the government's failure to save the Vestas wind turbine factory on the isle of Wight. See photo gallery.

Speakers included Simon Hughes MP - Lib Dem shadow spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change - Darren Johnson Chair of the GLA (Green Party), and also representatives from Unison, PCS and other unions . In a lively 'old style' poltical rally many views were expressed but all called on the government to save Vestas and promote wind energy projects in the UK.

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Speakers included:
Chris Baugh PCS assistant general secretary
Seamus Milne Guardian journalist
Jonathan Neale Campaign against Climate Change
Matt Vestas worker

Read and sign our open letter to Ed Miliband

Help the Vestas factory occupation

Tuesday 28th July at 6:30pm

A second lively rally was held outside Ed Miliband's Department of Energy and Climate Change on the eve of the case to take out an injunction to evict the occupiers going to court in Newport on the Isle of Wight.  There was also a big demonstration of several hundreds outside Newport County Court itself at 10.00 am on the following Wednesday morning. See video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdC3SOttYCw

The London Rally was called jointly by the Campaign against Climate Change and the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers). Speakers at the Rally included Jean Lambert MEP (Green Party), Oliver New from the RMT,  Phil Thornhill from the Campaign agianst Climate Change, Drew Scanlon from the Vestas workers and  Dave Timms from Friends of the Earth.

On Friday 24th July there was a public meeting in London. Speakers included Chris Baugh (PCS assistant general secretary), Seamus Milne (Guardian journalist), Jonathan Neale (Campaign against Climate Change), and Matt (Vestas worker).

Read and sign our open letter to Ed Miliband

Help the Vestas factory occupation

A talk by Deepak Rugani from Biofuelwatch at Camden Town Hall (map here).

On the weekend of 1st to 2nd August a "VESTIVAL" was held on the Isle of Wight. Supporters of  the Vestas occupation - environmental activists, trade unionists and others - gathered at the Vestas factory near Newport to demand  the factory stay open and  for more wind power and a green energy revolution! For Green jobs and for a prosperous Isle of Wight economy!

There was a march and rally of 200 or so in Newport, starting at St Thomas's Square at 1.00pm on the Saturday. On the Sunday there was 'kids and family' day at the sight of the protestor's encampment outside the factory. A multitude of tents are crammed toegther onto a traffic island outside the plant (now dubbed "the magic roundabout") - with 'climate camp' veterans mixing with RMT trade unionists and others.

Folk band Seize The Day made a song about the occupation called "Boys on the Balcony" which you can listen to in the player below, or download here.

On the weekend of 1st to 2nd August a "VESTIVAL" was held on the Isle of Wight. Supporters of  the Vestas occupation - environmental activists, trade unionists and others - gathered at the Vestas factory near Newport to demand  the factory stay open and  for more wind power and a green energy revolution! For Green jobs and for a prosperous Isle of Wight economy!

There was a march and rally of 200 or so in Newport, starting at St Thomas's Square at 1.00pm on the Saturday. On the Sunday there was 'kids and family' day at the sight of the protestor's encampment outside the factory. A multitude of tents are crammed toegther onto a traffic island outside the plant (now dubbed "the magic roundabout") - with 'climate camp' veterans mixing with RMT trade unionists and others.

Folk band Seize The Day made a song about the occupation called "Boys on the Balcony" which you can listen to in the player below, or download here.

Thursday 6th August at 6.30pm

Outside the Dept. of Energy and Climate Change, 3 Whitehall Place.

Michael Meacher MP (see left) spoke at a rally in support of the beleaguered workers occupying the Vestas factory - and demanding the government match its words - on Green Jobs and the Green Energy Revolution - with action. Other speakers included trade unionists Billy Hayes, General Secretary of the CWU and Alex Gordon from the RMT,  Jenny Jones, GLA member from the Green party, Michael from the Isle of Wight Vestas factory and Phil Thornhill from the Campaign against Climate Change.

Photos from the event here.

Demonstrators braved the rain to hear a great line up of speakers. Luckily we just about managed to finish before the real downpour started!

Last Saturday, 8th August

On the march - Save Vestas Rally, Newport, 8th August

Around 300 people attended the 'Save Vestas' Rally in Newport on the Isle of Wight. The crowd cheered workers who just the day before had ended their occupation of the factory as the bailiffs were sent in. The message was clear that the 'the fight goes on'.

The rally was followed by a march back to the Vestas factory in an industial estate on the outskirts of Newport. On the way someone hatched a 'cunning plan' and instead of going to the front of the plant, the march entered the factory premises by the back gate so that protestors were able to gather round the main entrance inside the security fence and very volubly deliver their demands there.

Meanwhile the small encampment on the 'magic roundabout' outside the plant remains, plans were made for pickets etc...  the Save Vestas campaign goes on!

This is not just a chance hot spell...this is part of something bigger...and its going to get much, much hotter: thats what the Climate scientists are saying...
"Charlie the Climate-Change Camel" and a host of other oriental/desert characters were putting over the message that Climate Change is here for real , on Saturday, 9th August, around midday in central London. The Camel - and companions - roamed around Leicester Square, Charing Cross Road etc.., giving out leaflets and generally spreading the word (and, yes, inside the camel one was able to fully appreciate the high temperatures!!!!.....)

More photos from our demo here.
On Friday the 7th August the bailiffs went in and the occupation of the Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight ended. In response to this a National Day of Action in support of the Vestas workers and to keep the factory open, for Green Jobs and a Green Energy Revolution,  was declared.  There were actions all around the country organised by a diverse range of groups. See here or here (right hand column, scroll down to "Upcoming Solidarity Actions and Meetings"). In London there was a rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), No. 3 Whitehall Place at 6.30pm (see picture).

The campaign continues with another, bigger,  Day of Action to Save Vestas on 17th September (note change of date from 9th)

Plus - you can sign the UNITE/FOE petition to Save Vestas here. You can download our Vestas flier from our Leaflets page. Please print it and distribute it!

The campaign to Save Vestas has not finished, it has just started and with it comes a campaign for a step change in the creation of Green Jobs and the Green Energy Revolution!