This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/8189278.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Sit-in workers leave Vestas site | Sit-in workers leave Vestas site |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Workers who staged a sit-in protest at a wind turbine blade factory on the Isle of Wight have left the building. | |
Bailiffs entered the offices of Vestas in Newport at 1200 BST after the firm was granted a possession order. | Bailiffs entered the offices of Vestas in Newport at 1200 BST after the firm was granted a possession order. |
One man jumped from a balcony and was taken to hospital as a precaution and two abseiled from a wall. | |
Workers had occupied an office inside the plant since 20 July in protest at plans to axe 625 jobs, which the firm said was due to a fall in demand. | |
Bailiffs were told they could use "reasonable force" to remove the remaining six workers after a court order was issued on Thursday. | Bailiffs were told they could use "reasonable force" to remove the remaining six workers after a court order was issued on Thursday. |
It was all a bit bewildering to get out but a big relief Protester | |
Crowds of supporters lined the site cheering on the men before they were were spoken to by police. | Crowds of supporters lined the site cheering on the men before they were were spoken to by police. |
They had raised a sign from a balcony outside which said "Vestas, this is only the start, you will lose." | They had raised a sign from a balcony outside which said "Vestas, this is only the start, you will lose." |
One of the workers told the BBC: "It was all a bit bewildering to get out but a big relief. | One of the workers told the BBC: "It was all a bit bewildering to get out but a big relief. |
"I hugged my daughter who shed a few tears and saw my family. | "I hugged my daughter who shed a few tears and saw my family. |
"We feel that we have won a moral victory." | "We feel that we have won a moral victory." |
A rooftop demonstration at a second Vestas site in East Cowes, by climate change protesters, is set to continue for "as long" as the workers want it to, a spokesman said. | |
Vestas is closing the Newport site because it says the UK wind turbine market was not big enough. | |
Lack of orders | |
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which has supported the protesters during the sit-in, accused its owners of "kicking the legs" from under a rescue package that could have saved it from closure. | |
Bob Crow, of the RMT, met with energy minister Joan Ruddock on Thursday to discuss the future of the factory. | |
The Department of Energy and Climate Change said it would not comment on private meetings, but added that discussions had been held with Vestas over the closure. | |
The company has said that subsidies were not the issue and the factory was closing because of a lack of orders. | |
Peter Kruse, spokesman for Vestas told the BBC that there was "no such rescue package". | |
He added: "What they need to do is to get the UK market onshore going. | |
"The government is doing all it can but it does take time." |
Previous version
1
Next version