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| Sit-in wind blade factory closes | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Vestas has confirmed its wind turbine blade factory on the Isle of Wight has closed with the loss of 425 jobs. | |
| Workers at the Newport site held a sit-in protest over the planned closure, which ended after 19 days last week. | Workers at the Newport site held a sit-in protest over the planned closure, which ended after 19 days last week. |
| The Danish firm told staff at Newport and its operation in Southampton earlier they have been made redundant following the end of consultations. | |
| Vestas blamed the lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK. Protest events are being held across the UK. | Vestas blamed the lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK. Protest events are being held across the UK. |
| A national day of action had already been organised by the Rail Maritime and Transport union in support of the workers. | A national day of action had already been organised by the Rail Maritime and Transport union in support of the workers. |
| Eleven employees involved in the sit-in had already been sacked by Vestas as a result of their protest. | |
| 'Difficult decision' | 'Difficult decision' |
| The demonstration ended on Friday when they were evicted by bailiffs, with some workers abseiling and jumping from the first-floor office they had been occupying. | The demonstration ended on Friday when they were evicted by bailiffs, with some workers abseiling and jumping from the first-floor office they had been occupying. |
| Ian Terry, who spent the full 19 days inside the factory, said: "The workers now know where they stand, they are redundant and they have their money. But the fight is still going on. | Ian Terry, who spent the full 19 days inside the factory, said: "The workers now know where they stand, they are redundant and they have their money. But the fight is still going on. |
| One of the workers jumped from the first-floor office | One of the workers jumped from the first-floor office |
| "Vestas is not going to budge on things because the decisions are being made from higher up. | "Vestas is not going to budge on things because the decisions are being made from higher up. |
| "They thought we were going to be an easy ride as we are not unionised but our workforce are strong." | "They thought we were going to be an easy ride as we are not unionised but our workforce are strong." |
| He said he still hoped some jobs could be saved before the site eventually closes. | He said he still hoped some jobs could be saved before the site eventually closes. |
| Vestas said as of Wednesday production had ceased at its sites and staff made redundant. | |
| But 57 employees will continue to work at the Newport factory "for months rather than weeks" to assist in clearing and closing the site for good. | |
| Another 40 employees have been found new roles within the firm's research and development facility on the island | |
| Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades, said: "The decision to close the factory was very difficult, and we fully recognise the impact this will have on employees, their families and on the Isle of Wight. | Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades, said: "The decision to close the factory was very difficult, and we fully recognise the impact this will have on employees, their families and on the Isle of Wight. |
| "Nonetheless, this commercial decision was absolutely necessary to secure Vestas' competiveness. | "Nonetheless, this commercial decision was absolutely necessary to secure Vestas' competiveness. |
| "We understand and have sympathy that employees are deeply affected by the closure." | "We understand and have sympathy that employees are deeply affected by the closure." |
| He added all workers have received information, advice and guidance on finding new jobs. | He added all workers have received information, advice and guidance on finding new jobs. |
| Vestas said redundancy payments would be more than double those required by statute. | Vestas said redundancy payments would be more than double those required by statute. |
| The firm said it will continue research and development activities on the Isle of Wight, and maintain its sales and service business in the UK. | The firm said it will continue research and development activities on the Isle of Wight, and maintain its sales and service business in the UK. |