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Turbine plant 'sit-in' continues Turbine 'sit-in' workers sacked
(about 13 hours later)
A sit-in protest by about 25 workers over job cuts at a wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight has entered its ninth day. Eleven workers taking part in a sit-in protest over job cuts at a wind turbine blade factory on the Isle of Wight have been dismissed.
Vestas Windsystems is making 625 staff redundant and shutting the Newport site because it says the UK wind turbine market is not big enough. Vestas Windsystems said it had sacked 11 employees who it had identified as being inside the office.
Campaigners are due to hold a rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in central London later. The protest began on 20 July in response to the firm's plans to make 625 staff redundant at the end of July.
They are calling on the government to spend more on green energy. Vestas is shutting the Newport site because it says the UK wind turbine market is not big enough.
The Save Vestas Rally, scheduled to begin at 1830 BST, has been organised by the Campaign against Climate Change (CACC) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT). Mike, one of the workers, told the BBC that dismissal letters - telling them they had lost their jobs and their redundancy packages - were delivered with their evening meal, a slice of pizza.
He said: "We're obviously disappointed but we kind of expected this.
"It's not going to deter us and we're not going to leave.
The workers have spent more than a week inside the factoryThe workers have spent more than a week inside the factory
Phil Thornhill, from the CACC, said: "The lack of UK demand cited as a reason for closure is a direct result of the British government's woeful neglect of the renewables industry during its period in office up to now." "We're not doing this for us now, we're doing this for everybody else."
His comments come after Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband spent more than an hour talking to Vestas protesters when he visited Oxford on Monday. Vestas said: "Since the occupation began on Monday 20 July, Vestas has made several attempts to encourage the employees participating in the occupation to discontinue their participation.
Meanwhile, the government announced a £6m grant for Vestas' research centre, which will be based at Newport. "Vestas has also explained to the employees concerned the potential consequences of their actions if they were to refuse to discontinue their participation.
"Today, Vestas therefore, unfortunately, saw no other choice than to dismiss the 11 employees, who the company has positively identified as the employees currently participating in the occupation of the factory."
On Wednesday, the company will make an application at Newport County Court for a possession order to remove the protestors from the factory.
Protesters said about 25 workers were occupying the office of the Danish company's factory.
Climate rally
Meanwhile, campaigners were holding a rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in central London on Tuesday evening.
The Save Vestas Rally has been organised by the Campaign against Climate Change (CACC) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
They were calling on the government to spend more on green energy.
On Monday, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband spent more than an hour talking to Vestas protesters when he visited Oxford.
The visit coincided with the government announcing a £6m grant for Vestas' research centre, which will be based at Newport.
Mr Miliband told the BBC he was "very sorry for the people who may be losing their jobs in the Isle of Wight".Mr Miliband told the BBC he was "very sorry for the people who may be losing their jobs in the Isle of Wight".
Union colleagues
He went on to say the "£6m to help Vestas build a research and development facility into offshore wind should employ around 150 people".He went on to say the "£6m to help Vestas build a research and development facility into offshore wind should employ around 150 people".
The sit-in workers, who are not members of a union, began their protest at the Danish company's factory on 20 July.
Their eviction from the site, which was due to close this week, will be discussed at a county court hearing in Newport on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a Vesta worker has flown to Copenhagen to attend a major trade union event.