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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Turbine workers talk of sit-in life | Turbine workers talk of sit-in life |
| (2 days later) | |
| by Michael Stoddard BBC South The workers have only been getting a few hours sleep a night | by Michael Stoddard BBC South The workers have only been getting a few hours sleep a night |
| The 25 or so workers continuing a sit-in protest at the Vestas wind turbine site on the Isle of Wight say morale is high, but what is it really like on the inside? | |
| The all-male group have been sleeping on the floor, washing in a sink basin and running low on food. | The all-male group have been sleeping on the floor, washing in a sink basin and running low on food. |
| One of the workers, who did not want to be named, said: "There are a few stinky bodies and it is hard being away from your family and kids but we've managed to stay in touch on our mobiles which has been great. | One of the workers, who did not want to be named, said: "There are a few stinky bodies and it is hard being away from your family and kids but we've managed to stay in touch on our mobiles which has been great. |
| "One guy has even called us up after seeing the publicity and asked for our mobile numbers and topped our phones up with £10, it's great to see such support." | "One guy has even called us up after seeing the publicity and asked for our mobile numbers and topped our phones up with £10, it's great to see such support." |
| They are protesting at Danish company Vestas Windsystems plan to make 625 workers redundant at the end of this month, despite rising profits. | They are protesting at Danish company Vestas Windsystems plan to make 625 workers redundant at the end of this month, despite rising profits. |
| The men have been telling each other jokes in a bid to keep spirits up. | The men have been telling each other jokes in a bid to keep spirits up. |
| 'Face sack' | 'Face sack' |
| "One of the guys found a pair of latex cycling shorts in the office, so we all had a good laugh when he put them on and ran around. | "One of the guys found a pair of latex cycling shorts in the office, so we all had a good laugh when he put them on and ran around. |
| "Just little things like that keep the atmosphere good." | "Just little things like that keep the atmosphere good." |
| He jokingly added: "It's all guys here so good to be away from the women for a while." | He jokingly added: "It's all guys here so good to be away from the women for a while." |
| The workers say morale is still high inside the factory | The workers say morale is still high inside the factory |
| The protester said the experience is probably similar to being on the television show Big Brother. | The protester said the experience is probably similar to being on the television show Big Brother. |
| "It is a bit, but no arguments yet. | "It is a bit, but no arguments yet. |
| "We are pretty cut off from the outside world and food has been running low, there's no television and we've been mostly listening to the radio. | "We are pretty cut off from the outside world and food has been running low, there's no television and we've been mostly listening to the radio. |
| "We've just been living on things like sausage rolls, pasties, crisps and a few bits of fruit. We could really do with a KFC. | "We've just been living on things like sausage rolls, pasties, crisps and a few bits of fruit. We could really do with a KFC. |
| "But we've all seen the survival shows and know we can go a while without food as long as we have the basics. | "But we've all seen the survival shows and know we can go a while without food as long as we have the basics. |
| "There's a water machine in the office and a coffee and tea vending machine. | "There's a water machine in the office and a coffee and tea vending machine. |
| "There's a toilet so there's no problem with that and a few guys brought some spare socks and clothes." | "There's a toilet so there's no problem with that and a few guys brought some spare socks and clothes." |
| Vestas has now erected a fence at the entrance to the site to stop people throwing food up to a balcony for workers, but the firm has agreed to deliver food supplies. | Vestas has now erected a fence at the entrance to the site to stop people throwing food up to a balcony for workers, but the firm has agreed to deliver food supplies. |
| The workers have also claimed the firm has told them they have been sacked and will lose redundancy pay. | The workers have also claimed the firm has told them they have been sacked and will lose redundancy pay. |
| 'Not much sleep' | 'Not much sleep' |
| Protesters filmed this footage from the occupied Vestas office | Protesters filmed this footage from the occupied Vestas office |
| The men locked themselves in a first-floor office of about 40ft by 40ft on Monday evening and have been staying up at night in shifts to guard the doors. | The men locked themselves in a first-floor office of about 40ft by 40ft on Monday evening and have been staying up at night in shifts to guard the doors. |
| "A lot of us had not had much sleep. I've been getting about two hours a night. | "A lot of us had not had much sleep. I've been getting about two hours a night. |
| "But we've been turning office chairs upside down and using the head rests as pillows even though they are not the most comfortable. | "But we've been turning office chairs upside down and using the head rests as pillows even though they are not the most comfortable. |
| "This protest is a last-ditch attempt to save our jobs, we want the government to come down here and help us." | "This protest is a last-ditch attempt to save our jobs, we want the government to come down here and help us." |
| The group have vowed to continue their sit-in for "as long as it takes". | The group have vowed to continue their sit-in for "as long as it takes". |
| The worker said the managers are still coming into work on the floor below. | The worker said the managers are still coming into work on the floor below. |
| A fence was put up on Wednesday but Vestas is supplying food | A fence was put up on Wednesday but Vestas is supplying food |
| "So far only the middle managers have spoken to us, not the big bosses," he said. | "So far only the middle managers have spoken to us, not the big bosses," he said. |
| "It started with a few phone calls, then we spoke through a crack in a door but today we let one in with the food. | "It started with a few phone calls, then we spoke through a crack in a door but today we let one in with the food. |
| "He said we had made our point and come down, but we want action first." | "He said we had made our point and come down, but we want action first." |
| Vestas has not commented on the protest and only told the BBC a consultation on the site's future is on-going. | Vestas has not commented on the protest and only told the BBC a consultation on the site's future is on-going. |
| The firm has previously said the factory was being closed due to reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe. | The firm has previously said the factory was being closed due to reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe. |