Offshore Energy Union RMT today called for urgent government intervention to stop the closure of the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight after statements from the company that “demand is too low” for turbines in the UK were exposed as totally bogus.
Vestas, who are in court this morning seeking a possession order against staff occupying the Isle of Wight factory, are leading members of the British Wind Energy Association. Today, a survey by the Association revealed that the UK will need 2700 new wind turbines by 2012, blowing apart Vestas argument that the Isle of Wight factory, the only producer of wind turbines in the UK, is not viable. Government reports suggest that the UK will need 10,000 wind turbines by 2020, all of which will need to be imported if Vestas is closed in Newport.
Last night Vestas sacked 11 staff engaged in the occupation with dismissal letters smuggled through in pizza boxes – a move slammed as “cowardly” and “worse than you’d treat a dog” by the Vestas workers’ union, RMT.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, who will be at the Vestas factory this afternoon, said:
“The arguments used for closing Vestas on the Isle of Wight, that UK demand for wind turbines is too low, have today been exposed as totally bogus and on those grounds alone the Government should step in to save this factory and the 625 skilled manufacturing jobs before it is too late. Vestas have had millions in government subsidies and this week scooped up another GBP7 million in R&D money just days before they are due to close their only UK factory. They have touted themselves around like corporate prostitutes, sucking up taxpayers money while moving to dump their UK force on the scrap heap and that’s a scandal.”
“Yesterday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson talked about “our low-carbon industrial future”. Today, the government have the chance to walk the talk, to step in and nationalise Vestas and save green jobs at the UK’s only wind turbine factory. They cannot sit idly by while a factory that UK wind energy production will need for the future is ripped apart.”
Vestas, who are in court this morning seeking a possession order against staff occupying the Isle of Wight factory, are leading members of the British Wind Energy Association. Today, a survey by the Association revealed that the UK will need 2700 new wind turbines by 2012, blowing apart Vestas argument that the Isle of Wight factory, the only producer of wind turbines in the UK, is not viable. Government reports suggest that the UK will need 10,000 wind turbines by 2020, all of which will need to be imported if Vestas is closed in Newport.
Last night Vestas sacked 11 staff engaged in the occupation with dismissal letters smuggled through in pizza boxes – a move slammed as “cowardly” and “worse than you’d treat a dog” by the Vestas workers’ union, RMT.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, who will be at the Vestas factory this afternoon, said:
“The arguments used for closing Vestas on the Isle of Wight, that UK demand for wind turbines is too low, have today been exposed as totally bogus and on those grounds alone the Government should step in to save this factory and the 625 skilled manufacturing jobs before it is too late. Vestas have had millions in government subsidies and this week scooped up another GBP7 million in R&D money just days before they are due to close their only UK factory. They have touted themselves around like corporate prostitutes, sucking up taxpayers money while moving to dump their UK force on the scrap heap and that’s a scandal.”
“Yesterday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson talked about “our low-carbon industrial future”. Today, the government have the chance to walk the talk, to step in and nationalise Vestas and save green jobs at the UK’s only wind turbine factory. They cannot sit idly by while a factory that UK wind energy production will need for the future is ripped apart.”
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