Save Vestas Petition
Jul 24th, 2009 | By Vicki Morris | Isle of Wight News From The Island Pulse
Workers at Vestas have set up a petition on the Downing Street website calling for the Government to save over 600 jobs at Vesta Blades on the Isle of Wight. Many residents on the Isle of Wight are supporting the sit-in campaign by Vestas workers, to keep the wind turbine factory open.
As the government pledged to plough more money into renewable energy, Save Vestas Campaigners want them to intervene and to nationalise if necessary – to save the 600 jobs at Vestas, and the further jobs on the island that will be lost if Vestas closes.
Please sign the new Save Vestas petition (link here:) on the 10 Downing Street website – written before the occupation began, but it included the demand that the government step in to keep Vestas open.
The aim is to get the petition among the top 5 that appear on the front page – a big ask! But the petition did well in its first day, now almost 600 people have signed.
As workers at a wind turbine manufacturer, we were confident that as the recession took hold that green or renewable energy would be the area where many jobs could be created – not lost.
So we were horrified to find out that our jobs were moving abroad and that more than 525 jobs from the Isle of Wight and Southampton were going to be added to the already poor state of island unemployment.
This has sent, and will continue to send, shockwaves of uncertainty through countless families on the island – many of which are being forced to relocate away from the island.
Now more than ever Vestas workers need our support. The island does not have a history of workers taking action – this could be the first of many victories where workers take control of their industries and demand that the bosses put people before profit, the environment before opportunism.
In addition to signing the Petition how can you help:
Demonstrate Friday 24th of July Friday 5.30pm St. Thomas square Newport and on Saturday 26th St James Newport (outside Millets) 12pm.
Visit the campaign blog – www.savevestas.wordpress.com
Send messages of support from yourself or your organisation to savevestas@googlemail.com.
Send a donation from your trade-union or other organisation, or make a personal donation: cheques payable to Ryde and East Wight Trades Union Council, 22 Church Lane, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NB
News links from the Island Pulse: ‘Lock Out’ At Vestas & Save Vestas Campaign Blog
Please Note: The current Save Vestas petition submitted by Vicki Morris on this link http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveVestas/ is not to be confused with the Save Isle of Wight Wind Turbine Jobs petition on this link: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/WindEnergyJobs/ which was submitted by John Ward and of which the Deadline to sign up by: 12 June 2009 has now closed.
Island Pulse Related News:
Vestas Sit-In Workers Face Eviction
