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Vestas in legal bid to end sit-in Turbine firm fails to end sit-in
(about 5 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 has failed 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 Newport offices since 20 July after 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. A judge at Newport County Court ruled that removal papers had not been served in accordance with legal rules.
On Tuesday Vestas said it had sacked 11 employees taking part in the sit-in. The case was adjourned until Tuesday. Eleven employees have been sacked.
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. 'Procedural issues'
The court heard that there were "procedural issues" in the way that the court summons were served.
Vestas had named individuals in its court summons and should have served papers to each of them.
However the firm only served them to one of the protesters inside who said he would pass them on, the court heard.
The Danish company is expected to serve court papers later by alternative means later if it can demonstrate it cannot get into the building, and will deliver them outside.
Vestas said it could not get in to the property without force because it was secured from the inside.
A hearing should have also taken place on Thursday, but the rules require three clear days after papers are served before the next court hearing.
'No other choice''No other choice'
Vestas has blamed its decision to close the factory on a lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK market, despite the firm's profits rising.
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. Sit-in protester Ian Terry told the BBC that they intended to leave the offices "peacefully" if they were forced out.
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". He said: "We are not going to resist but we are going to be in here as long as we can."
It's not going to deter us and we're not going to leave Mike, protesting worker, on sackings announced on Tuesday When it announced the sackings, Vestas said it had "made several attempts to encourage the employees participating in the occupation 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. We are not going to resist but we are going to be in here as long as we can Ian Terry, protesting worker
"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." It said: "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.
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.
"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
"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.
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."