Support the Vestas workers
Click here for the latest Socialist Party Vestas leaflet (pdf).
Click here for a model motion (Word doc).
This is now the second week of the occupation of the Vestas occupation on the Isle of Wight. Vestas management have today won a possession order to remove the workers from the Newport occupation but the workers are continuing their occupation tonight.
Workers have occupied the plant to protest against the closure of the factory and loss of jobs.
Management have refused to allow food to be passed in to the workers (apart from food supplies from the RMT last Saturday) and have been sending in very inadequate amounts of food themselves.
Last week Vestas management served dismissal notices to those inside hidden under pizza! If these workers are not re-instated they will lose any redundancy pay in the future.
The Vestas workers have received huge support from workers on the Isle of Wight, holding daily evening rallies and a demo last Saturday. Their action has received wide-spread publicity, mainly due to the fact that Vestas produce wind turbines. New Labour have taken no action to defend their jobs despite their talk of “green jobs.”
Vestas is an anti-union firm and these workers, unorganised before the occupation, are now union members fighting for their jobs. Large numbers have joined the RMT who are playing a key role in this dispute.
Please pass motions of support in your union branch. The Socialist Party suggests the following could be adapted for your use:
Model Resolution for union branches
This branch /meeting gives full support to the Vistas workers in occupation on the Isle of Wight.
We demand
- Immediate union recognition for the workers
- No to job cuts -keep the factory open
- Re-instate the sacked workers
- That the national bodies of this union give solidartity and support to this occupation.
- That this branch makes a donation to the Vestas workers.
