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Vestas in legal bid to end sit-in Vestas in legal bid to end sit-in
(about 2 hours later)
Wind turbine company Vestas is to go to court later in an attempt to force workers staging a sit-in at its Isle of Wight factory to leave the building.Wind turbine company Vestas is to go to court later in an attempt to force workers staging a sit-in at its Isle of Wight factory to leave the building.
About 25 workers have been occupying the offices in Newport since 20 July when the firm announced plans to close the factory, with the loss of 625 jobs.About 25 workers have been occupying the offices in Newport since 20 July when the firm announced plans to close the factory, with the loss of 625 jobs.
Vestas will apply at Newport County Court for a possession order to remove the workers from the site.Vestas will apply at Newport County Court for a possession order to remove the workers from the site.
On Tuesday Vestas said it had sacked 11 employees taking part in the sit-in.On Tuesday Vestas said it had sacked 11 employees taking part in the sit-in.
The Danish company has blamed the closure decision on a lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK market, despite the firm's profits rising.The Danish company has blamed the closure decision on a lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK market, despite the firm's profits rising.
'No other choice''No other choice'
The factory was scheduled to close this Friday.The factory was scheduled to close this Friday.
If the application for a possession order is successful, Vestas will be able to ask for a warrant to evict the protesters.If the application for a possession order is successful, Vestas will be able to ask for a warrant to evict the protesters.
When it announced the sackings, Vestas said in a statement that it had "made several attempts to encourage the employees participating in the occupation to discontinue their participation".When it announced the sackings, Vestas said in a statement that it had "made several attempts to encourage the employees participating in the occupation to discontinue their participation".
It's not going to deter us and we're not going to leave Mike, protesting worker, on sackings announced on TuesdayIt's not going to deter us and we're not going to leave Mike, protesting worker, on sackings announced on Tuesday
It said: "Vestas has also explained to the employees concerned the potential consequences of their actions if they were to refuse to discontinue their participation.It said: "Vestas has also explained to the employees concerned the potential consequences of their actions if they were to refuse to discontinue their participation.
"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.""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."
Protesters have said about 25 workers are taking part in the sit-in.Protesters have said about 25 workers are taking part in the sit-in.
Mike, one of the workers, told the BBC that dismissal letters - telling them they had lost their jobs and their redundancy packages - were delivered on Tuesday with their evening meal, a slice of pizza.Mike, one of the workers, told the BBC that dismissal letters - telling them they had lost their jobs and their redundancy packages - were delivered on Tuesday with their evening meal, a slice of pizza.
He said: "We're obviously disappointed but we kind of expected this.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."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
"We're not doing this for us now, we're doing this for everybody else.""We're not doing this for us now, we're doing this for everybody else."
The workers are not union members but trade unionists have joined the campaign to keep the factory open, as have environmentalists.The workers are not union members but trade unionists have joined the campaign to keep the factory open, as have environmentalists.
The Campaign against Climate Change and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) organised a rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in central London on Tuesday evening.The Campaign against Climate Change and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) organised a rally outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in central London on Tuesday evening.
The Save Vestas Rally called on the government to spend more on green energy.The Save Vestas Rally called on the government to spend more on green energy.
BBC business correspondent Martin Shankleman said the sackings were likely to harden the resolve of the RMT and could see the union escalate protests.
A union demonstration is expected outside the court on the Isle of Wight when Vestas company lawyers seek the re-possession order.A union demonstration is expected outside the court on the Isle of Wight when Vestas company lawyers seek the re-possession order.
On Monday, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband spent more than an hour talking to Vestas protesters when he visited Oxford. Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, condemned the sackings. He said: "This is a vindictive and aggressive move by a company that has been quite happy to accept millions of pounds in government grants and then dumped on its 625 staff when it suits them.
The visit coincided with the government announcing a £6m grant for Vestas' research centre, which will be based at Newport. "Workers whose only crime has been to fight for their futures and their communities and to defend green jobs have been treated like dirt.
Mr Miliband told the BBC he was "very sorry for the people who may be losing their jobs in the Isle of Wight". "The RMT will continue to back the workforce and the campaign is going from strength to strength.
He went on to say the "£6m to help Vestas build a research and development facility into offshore wind should employ around 150 people". "We are determined to drag the government kicking and screaming into this row.
"The sacked and victimised Vestas' workers have the full support of the labour and environmental movements in a unique coalition."