Author: simon
Vestas sit-in: Good Humour Abounds (podcast)
Saturday, 25th July, 2009 at 9:09 pm, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, Newport, Vestas Sit-In, podcast
One things that is impressive about the Vestas sit-in and the rallies that are being held every night is that it’s all being done with good humour.
The Vestas employees have got a good relationship with the police and everyone is getting along famously.
Here’s a small example of the humour from last night.
Related posts:
- Vestas Sit-in: Surprise As Vestas Stop Food Again (podcast)
Confusion reigns as Vestas say food the other day was... - Vestas Sit-in: Day 3 Phone Call To The Inside (podcast)
We chat to one of the protesting Vestas staff again... - Vestas Sit-in: East Cowes Vestas Roof Occupied: UPDATED (podcast)
Climate Camp activists and an RMT member have taken occupation... - Vestas Sit-in: Police Interview: UPDATED (podcast)
Clarification from the police on a few matters re the... - Vestas Sit-in: Newsflash: Newport March Entered Vestas Site (podcast) UPDATE 5 (photos + Video)
Saturday's Vestas jobs march diverted inside the grounds of the...
Email This Story To A Friend
Why Vestas protest is a bad idea
As a soon to be ex-Vestas employee I would like to explain just why this protest is a bad idea, for the protestors and for Vestas employees.
1. The lads involved in the protest have allowed themselves to be manipulated by outsiders who have their own agenda and have nothing to lose – the lads though, have lost thousands of pounds in redundancy money and wages not to mention any chance of getting another job. And for what? Vestas is an international company based in Denmark – they are not going to keep open a factory making turbine blades they can’t sell – it’s that simple. This protest will not change that and has no chance of achieving anything.
2. Before this protest ex-Vestas employees applying for jobs would at least have a chance – employers recognise Vestas as a good company with excellent training for its employees. Now, though, employers will think ‘ah ex-Vestas = toublemaker’ – thanks lads for making my job hunting that much more difficult.
3. There are people at Vestas I have worked with for a number of years and I would have liked the opportunity to say goodbye to them or maybe arrange to meet for a farewell drink – that won’t happen now; when this protest ends Vestas will close.
4. If at some stage in the future the market for blades in the UK improves Vestas might have decided to come back – they will think twice about it now.
It would have been nice to have made a dignified exit from Vestas – Vestas closing is a tragedy for me personally and all the other Vestas staff, as well as a tragedy for the Island – this pointless protest has just made it much worse.
(Report comment)
I completely agree with the above. Thank god someone finally has the balls to say it!
(Report comment)
I sympathise with your predicament and i understand your concerns that future employers may take a view that to protest might suggest to someone they may be a trouble maker.
My view is that just as the Company has right to take the factory elsewhere due to `market conditions` or whatever seems a reasonable explanation. The workforce has the right to state that they beg to differ. Each has a right which is protected morally and legally. The workforce has a right to protest that this decision is not in their intersts and is wrong.
The interpretation by others that they are causing trouble is up to them, and possibly reflects an intolerance in their mindset which is unwelcome and not approriate in society today. If the right to protest is given up meekly with fear of what another employer may think of them then we may well all be on the slippery slope to totalitarianism by consent.
I happen to believe the protest will change things, ok Vestas may well close. But for future manufacturers seeking government grants or assistance i am sure there may well be stronger covenants attached to the grant to protect against this type of action by companies. Vestas owe you an explanation for their action. They have a duty to conduct a meaningful consultation prior to final closure and they, have a duty to recognise that employees in the uk have a right to organise, either freely or though a Union, to represent their view to the employer.
Vestas, from my understanding, have failed in their duties to you. They are rightly being held to account for this.
Lastly in my opinion,opinionated and coherent employees, as those who are protesting are, are just the people business needs to succeed. Shame on them if others do not see that.
I am eqally certain that the last week has bonded stronger friendships which will transcend Vestas and somewhere along the way there will be a hge good bye party. Well there ought to be.
I wish you well.
(Report comment)
WANTED – ROMOTE CONTROL HELICOPTER PILOT WITH THE BALLS TO HELP FEED, CLEAN AND AMUSE THE BRAVE VESTAS 25. WE NEED TO GET THEM SOME ESSENTIALS AND THIS IS THE BEST IDEA WE HAVE HAD!!! IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE LET US KNOW. ALSO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN THE PROTEST WOULD BE VERY VERY WELCOME AT ANYTIME SPECIFICLY EVERY EVENING FROM 5.30 @ ST CROSS BUISSNES PARK NEWPORT
(Report comment)
I agree with Pete.The argument that future businesses will hesitate to set up here because of the possibility of the workforce causing trouble is a non-starter.Businessmen set up where they see the possibility of a profit at lowest cost and they are unfailingly confident of their superior managerial skills in handling any problems. I remind everyone of the days when the overpowerful unions were causing many well established firms to close.That never stopped the Japanese TV and car manufacturers from stepping in.They merely used the turbulent situation to negotiate beter financial terms from the government and from local councils.
Lastly -it is never wrong to stand up and be counted.Hasn’t our history shown that?
(Report comment)
for example ..lets look at the car industry after British Leyland in Birmingham.
The japanese stepped in to revive the DEAD British car industry because of finacial incentives to do so. This council, and this government have failed to support a private insutry, thus they are leaving for pastures greener. Lets not blame Vestas here, they are doing the best they can for the company. It is local government, national government and the lack of local support that have caused this Island disaster.
This is a niave action by desperate people trying to negotiate jobs in a global economy they don’t understand that has been destroyed fopr them by local and national policy and NIMBY’s on this Island…I guess some people in West wight must be laughing
(Report comment)
VESTAS WORKERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT STANDING AS WORKER POLITICIANS!
Many are talking about the ineptness of New Labour, epitomised by its spokesman on climate, Ed Miliband. Not only have the Labour Government shown to be dissonant, with their mixed messages on climate change, but also exposed by their rhetoric. This is definitely a consequence of the actions of the Vestas workers.
Listening to these bright young speakers who have indeed shown their personalities and their eloquence in recent speeches and interviews, they have also shown their ability to become political and argue deftly with these so called experts. The solutions espoused by these contemporaries, are embarrassing to the political “experts” and put them in the shadows. It is not only New Labour who fail but also the rest of the cartel parties who sing off the same song sheet. Not one of the mainstream parties speaks for the workers or, the island or indeed the country but are all shown only to be sympathetic to big business.
It is not unreasonable to appreciate the potential. It is not without credence to consider these young workers as future independent worker politicians. There are many examples where campaigners for hospitals or schools have stood in their constituencies for what they believe in. It is for this reason that Vestas workers should consider standing in the up and coming General Election, selected by their peers and voted for by Isle of Wight citizens. People are looking for an alternative to the parties of the status quo. These young people are developing many ideas and putting forward many solutions in favour of ordinary people as far ranged as the environmental integrity of the planet. These workers have engaged in the act of finding out about things by engaging in a very practical struggle, which is bearing a complexity of fruit. What they are discovering in all of this is that the most important factor in all this is the human factor. Vestas is just a name, a name of a company that acquired a space with some means of production inside of it; the real value in the production of wind turbines has been the skills of the workforce and their social productivity. It is the consciousness of the human factor and the consciousness of what could be achieved that has a growing confidence about itself. It is the confidence that expresses itself in the belief that it is not only that production of wind turbines can continue, but it probably will continue in a different way than what it was before and in such a way that the workers previously known as Vestas workers will have more freedom in the decision making process to become free workers who are the motive force to recommence production.
Vestas have been shown up for being authoritarian and dismissive of its workforce. The Government and the powers that be have also tried to be as dismissive of the actions that have taken place. This state of affairs has been challenged by the workers and has inspired and led others in similar positions. The workers have taken a step towards liberating themselves and upholding their dignity and the dignity of labour this must go further.
Ryde Trades Council 27/7/09
rtcouncil@yahoo.com
http://rtuc.wordpress.com/
(Report comment)
To quote DOD ”Businessmen set up where they see the possibility of a profit at lowest cost and they are unfailingly confident of their superior managerial skills in handling any problems.”
This is exactly what vestas is doing.. it is the government who have let these people down not vestas who have made a sensible business decision.
I really hope this embarasses our government around the world…. they deserve it.
(Report comment)
Good luck to the workers at Vestas but I think that you are on a losing wicket. It is good that you are keeping the good humour.
Best of luck from Ozz Land.
(Report comment)