Vestas worker to speak in Cardiff as campaign continues
11 August 2009
Although the occupation ended on Friday 7th August, that was far from being the end of the campaign. The Vestas workers now intend to picket the plant at Newport, Isle of Wight, to prevent Vestas from taking back complete control of it, and the machinery and the turbine blades that are still inside.
The Vestas workers and their supporters are stepping up their campaign to put pressure on the Government to intervene to save these green jobs. This coming Wednesday 12 August has been declared a national day of solidarity with Vestas workers.
Supporters around the country are organising their own rallies and meetings, and, ideally, attempting to get workers to stop work for a time, on that day.
Wednesday's events will include a meeting in Cardiff, at Riverside Community Centre, Brunel Street (off Ninian Park Road) CF11 6ES, beginning at 7.30 pm. The speakers will include a Vestas worker; PCS Wales Vice-Chair, Marianne Owens; and Adam Johannes, of the Cardiff Campaign against Climate Change. Wayne Thomas, of the South Wales Area NUM, and a speaker from the Climate Camp have also been invited.
The Save Vestas campaign says:
"You can keep up to date with other events on the Save Vestas blog. If you would like help organising or advertising a protest, please let us know. Email savevestas@googlemail.com. We have a sheet of tips on how to organise protests.
"At the East Cowes Vestas factory a group of supporters are staging a rooftop protest. You can keep up to date with that on our blog. They are in touch with Vestas workers to discuss how they can coordinate their activities.
"It is possible to win this campaign, through keeping up the momentum and contacts made already during the occupation. There are suggestions for ways you can help below. The main focus will be to build and maintain the picket, but meetings and fundraising can help to do that, through encouraging people to visit or paying for transport to the Isle of Wight and for the expenses of those supporters who are staying on the Island to help maintain the picket.
"Among the ways that you can help are the following:
- Send messages of support to savevestas@googlemail.com.
- Send a donation from your trade union or other organisation, or a personal donation: cheques payable to ‘Ryde and East Wight Trades Union Council’ can be sent to Ryde and East Wight TUC, 22 Church Lane, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NB or donate via the PayPal button on the campaign's website.
- Contact energy minister Ed Miliband, to call for the Government to take over the Vestas factory and keep it producing, under new management. His email address is MILIBANDE@parliament.uk. His telephone number in his Doncaster constituency is 01302 875 462, and at Westminster, 020 7219 4778.
- Organise a visible demonstration of solidarity. Take a photo with a placard that reads “Save Vestas” and email the photo to savevestas@googlemail.com.
- Sign the petitions on the No.10 Downing Street website and the Friends of the Earth website.
- Email Vestas: vestas@vestas.com and vestas-celtic@vestas.com with your thoughts.
"Save Green Jobs to Save the Planet!"
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