Vestas - the struggle continues

Well the workers occupying the Vestas factory in the Isle of Wight have been given a reprieve, the company were so disorganised that they could not identify the occupying workers and the judge refused to serve an injunction on 'persons unknown'. In the meantime the campaign has gathered speed and messages of support are coming in from all over the world. I heard the other day that a group of Palestinian children were photographed on the West Bank holding up signs saying 'Support the Vestas Workers'. The RMT union has been supporting their stuggle and Climate Camp and many of those who intended to go to the Big Green Gathering are on their way down to the Isle of Wight. Many of my colleagues from Green Left are also going, as are Green Party activists in the area. But this is a broad based campaign being supported by a range of trade unions and political groups. It is truly appalling that the government's rhetoric on averting climate change is being shown up as so much hot air by this action.

Latest news is that Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MEP for the area, has come up with an idea whereby the factory and the jobs can be saved.

Dr Lucas's submission, which offers a practical and sustainable solution to the current dispute over the proposed closure of the plant, will be delivered today at 4pm to Cllr David Pugh by Brian Lucas from Isle of Wight Green Party and a representative of the workers at the Vestas plant.
Under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, councils and communities have the opportunity to put forward proposals on sustainable improvements to local economic, environmental and social wellbeing.

Once established, individual councils' proposals are sent to the Government via the Local Government Association. The deadline for current submissions to the LGA is 31st July 2009.
In a last ditch attempt to keep the Vestas plant open, Dr Lucas will call on the IoW Council to ask for Government support under the terms of the 2007 Act to ensure that:
- The workers of the wind turbine company Vestas are permitted to form a Workers' Cooperative, and are supported in doing so by the government.
- Financial support (at the very least unemployment benefit) is paid to the workers of Vestas until such time as the proposed Workers'
Cooperative is financially viable.

This is an excellent initiative but there are two obstacles. Firstly, will the local Tory council have the gumption and the political will to send this request to the government? Here we will see the first test of Tory policy on climate change - if they cannot act here then, like New Labour, it is all empty posturing. Secondly, will Ed Milliband and the government react positively to the request? If they don't then they have blown away any credibility they had on green jobs and combating climate change. The Greens have thrown down the gauntlet, now we will see how the two main parties react to the challenge.

In the interim the Green Party Trade Union Group are sending a contribution to the Vestas workers, which I am coordinating as Treasurer. If anyone wants to contribute to this then please contact me or send cheques payable to ‘Ryde and East Wight Trades Union Council’ to Ryde and East Wight TUC, 22 Church Lane, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NB.