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| Protest at sit-in wind company HQ | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A demonstration is being held outside the UK headquarters of a wind turbine company at the centre of a sit-in protest on the Isle of Wight. | |
| About 25 workers at the Vestas factory in Newport have entered a sixth day of action against a planned 625 job cuts. | About 25 workers at the Vestas factory in Newport have entered a sixth day of action against a planned 625 job cuts. |
| Campaigners have been staging a demonstration at Vestas headquarters in Warrington from 1200 BST. | |
| The firm said it was planning to shut the Newport site as the wind turbine market in the UK was "not big enough". | The firm said it was planning to shut the Newport site as the wind turbine market in the UK was "not big enough". |
| The workers, who are not members of a union, began their sit-in protest on Monday after plans were announced to cut the 625 jobs, despite rising profits. | The workers, who are not members of a union, began their sit-in protest on Monday after plans were announced to cut the 625 jobs, despite rising profits. |
| Danish firm Vestas served court papers on Thursday with the matter set to be discussed in a county court in Newport on Wednesday. | Danish firm Vestas served court papers on Thursday with the matter set to be discussed in a county court in Newport on Wednesday. |
| The government says it wants to increase the number of wind turbines five-fold, it seems quite obvious to keep the only wind turbine factory in the UK open Richard Searle, Respect union | The government says it wants to increase the number of wind turbines five-fold, it seems quite obvious to keep the only wind turbine factory in the UK open Richard Searle, Respect union |
| The Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Respect party have both come forward to offer support for the workers. | The Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Respect party have both come forward to offer support for the workers. |
| Richard Searle, from the Manchester branch of Respect, organised Saturday's action. | Richard Searle, from the Manchester branch of Respect, organised Saturday's action. |
| He said: "We thought as an act of solidarity for those people who have taken, I think, an inspirational act of occupying the factory to stop job losses we could take some action that could raise the whole issue on a national agenda. | He said: "We thought as an act of solidarity for those people who have taken, I think, an inspirational act of occupying the factory to stop job losses we could take some action that could raise the whole issue on a national agenda. |
| "The idea of closing a factory, putting 625 on the dole, whose job is to make wind turbines amid the crisis of climate change we face is absolutely madness. | "The idea of closing a factory, putting 625 on the dole, whose job is to make wind turbines amid the crisis of climate change we face is absolutely madness. |
| The workers have spent five nights inside the factory | The workers have spent five nights inside the factory |
| "The government says it wants to increase the number of wind turbines five-fold, it seems quite obvious to keep the only wind turbine factory in the UK open." | "The government says it wants to increase the number of wind turbines five-fold, it seems quite obvious to keep the only wind turbine factory in the UK open." |
| Hundreds of people attended a rally for the protesters in Newport on Friday evening, a worker said. | Hundreds of people attended a rally for the protesters in Newport on Friday evening, a worker said. |
| Vestas worker Sean McDonagh, 33, said he believed at least 400 people gathered at St Thomas' Square. | Vestas worker Sean McDonagh, 33, said he believed at least 400 people gathered at St Thomas' Square. |
| "It was overwhelming," he added. "The faces in the crowd tonight were islanders and there was a sense of unity." | "It was overwhelming," he added. "The faces in the crowd tonight were islanders and there was a sense of unity." |
| Mr McDonagh said the demonstrations would now be daily. | Mr McDonagh said the demonstrations would now be daily. |
| Vestas Wind Systems told the BBC on Friday that even though demand was strong globally it made "more sense" to make turbines as close to the market as possible. | Vestas Wind Systems told the BBC on Friday that even though demand was strong globally it made "more sense" to make turbines as close to the market as possible. |
| Peter Kruse, spokesman from Vestas Wind Systems, said they were "patient people" but the workers - who are not members of a union - had been warned that there would be "consequences". | Peter Kruse, spokesman from Vestas Wind Systems, said they were "patient people" but the workers - who are not members of a union - had been warned that there would be "consequences". |
| A total of five men have been arrested at the site of the action since Monday, police said. | A total of five men have been arrested at the site of the action since Monday, police said. |