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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 Tuesday | It'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 factory | The 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. |
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. |
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. | |
"Workers whose only crime has been to fight for their futures and their communities and to defend green jobs have been treated like dirt. | |
"The RMT will continue to back the workforce and the campaign is going from strength to strength. | |
"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." |