This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/8165369.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Sit-in turbine protest gets food | Sit-in turbine protest gets food |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The owners of a wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have delivered food to about 25 staff who are on the fourth day of a sit-in protest. | The owners of a wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have delivered food to about 25 staff who are on the fourth day of a sit-in protest. |
Danish company Vestas Windsystems plans to make 625 workers redundant at the end of July, despite rising profits. | Danish company Vestas Windsystems plans to make 625 workers redundant at the end of July, despite rising profits. |
Workers believed that a fence erected on Wednesday was to stop supplies being thrown through a balcony, but the firm has since agreed to provide food. | Workers believed that a fence erected on Wednesday was to stop supplies being thrown through a balcony, but the firm has since agreed to provide food. |
Vestas said talks at the site were continuing and it would not comment. | Vestas said talks at the site were continuing and it would not comment. |
Protesters, who occupied the Newport site on Monday at about 1930 BST, said managers had given them until Tuesday night to end their action or face the sack. | Protesters, who occupied the Newport site on Monday at about 1930 BST, said managers had given them until Tuesday night to end their action or face the sack. |
The protesters said electric and telephone lines had been temporarily cut, but police said the power to the building was at no stage turned off. | The protesters said electric and telephone lines had been temporarily cut, but police said the power to the building was at no stage turned off. |
'Better than nothing' | 'Better than nothing' |
Sandwiches, drinks and chocolate bars were delivered by a manager on Thursday. | Sandwiches, drinks and chocolate bars were delivered by a manager on Thursday. |
A protester thanks supporters and says that they do not want to give up | |
One of the workers said: "We got some food this morning, not quite enough to go around but it's better than nothing. | One of the workers said: "We got some food this morning, not quite enough to go around but it's better than nothing. |
"The manager who came in told us we had made our point and said we should give up, but we want action." | "The manager who came in told us we had made our point and said we should give up, but we want action." |
A total of five people have now been arrested at the site, police said. | A total of five people have now been arrested at the site, police said. |
Two men, aged 23 and 41, were held overnight, one on suspicion of criminal damage and the other on suspicion of entering an area cordoned off by police. | Two men, aged 23 and 41, were held overnight, one on suspicion of criminal damage and the other on suspicion of entering an area cordoned off by police. |
On Wednesday, a 28-year-old man was held on suspicion of assaulting an officer and later bailed. | On Wednesday, a 28-year-old man was held on suspicion of assaulting an officer and later bailed. |
A 38-year-old man arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace was released without charge. | A 38-year-old man arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace was released without charge. |
A 49-year-old man was charged with breach of the peace and remanded in custody to appear before Isle of Wight magistrates later. | A 49-year-old man was charged with breach of the peace and remanded in custody to appear before Isle of Wight magistrates later. |
Workers inside the factory say they will stay for "as long as it takes" | Workers inside the factory say they will stay for "as long as it takes" |
The campaigners have called on Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, to travel to the island to speak to them. | The campaigners have called on Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, to travel to the island to speak to them. |
About 200 workers staged a protest outside the factory on Tuesday after being turned away when they arrived for work. | About 200 workers staged a protest outside the factory on Tuesday after being turned away when they arrived for work. |
They were also joined by climate change protesters who are supporting them. | They were also joined by climate change protesters who are supporting them. |
Police said Vestas had started legal action to gain an injunction to remove the sit-in protesters. | Police said Vestas had started legal action to gain an injunction to remove the sit-in protesters. |
The company said the factory was being closed next week because of reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe. | The company said the factory was being closed next week because of reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe. |
Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner Nick Rau said: "The UK has the best wind resources in the whole of Europe and we should be creating green energy jobs, not shedding them." | Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner Nick Rau said: "The UK has the best wind resources in the whole of Europe and we should be creating green energy jobs, not shedding them." |
A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said the plant made blades for the US market which were not the right specification for onshore or offshore wind farms in the UK. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said the plant made blades for the US market which were not the right specification for onshore or offshore wind farms in the UK. |