VESTAS WORKERS BESIEGED BY RIOT POLICE

VESTAS WORKERS BESIEGED BY RIOT POLICE (Updated Press Release)

Workers staging a sit-in at the soon-to-close Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight are being starved out by police.

The police, many inside the factory and dressed in riot gear, have denied food to the workers who took over the factory offices last night, to protest the closure of their factory. The police, operating with highly questionable legal authority, have surrounded the offices, preventing supporters from joining the sit-in, and preventing food from being brought to the protestors.

Around 20 workers at the Vestas Plant in Newport, on the Isle of Wight, occupied the top floor of offices in their factory to protest against its closure which will result in over 500 job losses.

Acting without an injunction, on private property, the police have repeatedly tried to break into the office where the protesting workers have barricaded themselves, and have threatened the workers with arrest for aggravated trespass, despite the fact that no damage has been done to the property where the protest is taking place. Police have also forcibly removed people from private property, another action that is of very questionable legality in the absence of a formal injunction.

The office involved in the latter action was number 3606. The officer who appears to be in charge is 3115.

This heavy handed response is the latest in a long line of over-reactions to protest by various UK police forces.

The Vestas workers inside the factory released a statement earlier today:

“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.

We find this hard to stomach as the government are getting away with claiming they are investing heavily in these types of industry.

Only last week they said they would create 400,000 green jobs. How can the process start with 600 of us losing our jobs?

Now I’m not sure about you but we think it’s about time that if the government can spend billions bailing out the banks – and even nationalise them – then surely they can do the same at Vestas.

The people of Vestas matter, and the people of the island matter, but equally importantly the people of this planet matter. We will not be brushed under the carpet by a government which is claiming to help us.

We have occupied our factory and call on the government to step in and nationalise it. We and many others believe it is essential that we continue to keep our factory open for our families and livelihoods, but also for the future of the planet.

We call on Ed Miliband as the relevant minister to come to the island and tell us to our face why it makes sense for the government to launch a campaign to expand green energy at the same moment at the country’s only major wind turbine producer closes.

Please show your support.

Protest at Newport Vestas at 5pm today (off Dondor Lane - Monks Brook Newport, Isle Of Wight, PO30 5WZ)

Demonstrate Friday 24th of July Friday 5.30pm St. Thomas square Newport”

Contact details:
(ed) 07775763750
(martin) 07950978083
savevestas.press@googlemail.com
http://savevestas.wordpress.com

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

525 redundancies in the UK were announced by Vestas at the start of April.

Two factories (that make wind turbines) on the Isle of Wight (in Newport and Cowes) are due to close at the end of this month.

Vestas (a Danish company) profits grew 70% in 2008, revenue went up 58% while shipping volumes went up 28%.

There are currently 20-30 workers occupying the offices of the factory in Newport. There are about 50 workers forming a picket line outside.

For more information, and updates, visit

http://savevestas.wordpress.com

Retaking our liberties

A benefit for the United Campaign Against Police Violence.
Thursday 16 July from 7.30pm
The Cross Kings, 126 York Way, London N1

Featuring: Woodstock legend Barry 'The Fish' Melton, Sameh Moussa, Angry Sam, Graham Larkbey & The Escape Committee, Reddog Visuals.

£5 (+ donation) on the door.

Organised by irb productions.

Put the IPCC on trial - 10 July, London

10 July - Put the "Independent" Police Complaints Commission on trial!

On Friday July 10th it will be 100 days since the death of Ian Tomlinson. To mark this sad occasion, and to show solidarity with the Tomlinson family and the countless other families and friends still awaiting justice the United Campaign Against Police Violence asks you to join us in putting the Independent Police Complaints Commission on trial.

WHERE: IPCC HQ, 90 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6BH
WHEN: Friday July 10th, 4-6pm
WHY: Currently those who police the police have shown themselves to be neither independent nor just. We are going to hold our own public investigation and trial of the IPCC and invite all those with complaints to bring them down to be aired (and judged) in public. We also come to stand in solidarity with all victims of police brutality, their families and their friends.


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AFTER 30 YEARS REPORT INTO THE DEATH OF BLAIR PEACH TO BE DISCLOSED

This from a press release from Inquest:

Today the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police conceded to the family’s request that the full report by former Commander John Cass into the death of Blair Peach in Southall in 1979 should be disclosed, subject to any legally necessary redactions. This momentous decision followed an ongoing campaign that was given added momentum following the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests and the similarities between the two fatal indicents. Prior to the MPA meeting today, INQUEST met MPA member Jenny Jones, Blair’s former partner Celia Stubbs and his brother Philip Peach to discuss the motion requestingdisclosure.

Deborah Coles, Co-Director of INQUEST, said:

We welcome the lifting of the veil of secrecy surrounding this death that has undermined family and public confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service. The challenge now is to ensure that there is as full disclosure as legally possible and that reasons are given for any redactions given ongoing public concern about this process.

It was the negative experience of Blair Peach's family and friends with the investigation and inquest system that led them to join with others to set up INQUEST in 1981. Sadly, the need for the organisation remains as urgent today. Non-disclosure of evidence has been one of the most problematic issues following deaths in custody and has seriously undermined family and public confidence in the police complaints system. The whole basis on which the Cass report has been withheld from the Peach family for 30 years has been discredited and it is accepted by government that the results of investigations into deaths following police contact are now disclosed to families.

More police brutality

Nottingham police have been busy in recent weeks.

First we read about the case of Reece Staples, 19, who was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Reese, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder, was taken to Oxclose Lane Police Station. At 5am the police called an ambulance, finding him to be unwell - he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

This story is all too common, and is similar to the story of Sean Rigg, who also died in highly suspicious circumstances having been taken to a police station in South London.

Today reports come out of the police Tasering and allegedly beating an apparently unarmed man in Nottingham.

Both incidents have been reported to the IPCC - which has a 100% record of protecting the police involved in such cases of brutality.

This is why UCAPV is organising protests at the IPCC offices around the country on 10 July. More details will follow, but get in touch with the campaign if you can help us build it.

The day we kettled New Scotland Yard

Thanks to everyone who turned out on Saturday for the brilliant demonstration against police violence. It was an angry, united protest, and we managed to (pretty much) entirely surround New Scotland Yard!

It was interesting to note the police attitude to the demo. Other than some half-hearted attempts to clear the road outside the Yard at the end, there was little police intimidation.

Have a look at some of the videos of the day below on our YouTube playlist.

Yesterday the campaign had another boost - the lecturers' UCU union is the latest to affiliate nationally!

Our next action will be a protest outside the office of the IPCC on 10 July. More information to follow...