Author: simon
Joan Ruddock MP Says Vestas Sit-in Workers Should Get Their Redundancy
Thursday, 6th August, 2009 at 5:34 pm, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, Newport, Vestas Sit-In
In a meeting with two Vestas workers and senior union officials, Joan Ruddock, MP said those who were sacked for taking part in the Vestas sit-in should get their redundancy reinstated.
We’ve recently spoken to Sean McDonagh from Vestas who was on his way back from a meeting in London with Minister of State, Joan Ruddock MP.
He and Mike Godley had met with TUC, Unite, Bob Crow (RMT) and John Leach, President of the RMT, at the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to discuss with Joan Ruddock what the government could do for the workers at the Vestas Blades plant.
The minister said that she was fully supportive that those who took part in the sit-in should not lose their redundancy benefits as the company had threatened them with in their dismissal notices.
She also said, “Vestas might have abandoned the Island, but the government won’t.”
We spoke to the DECC press office and they told us that they cannot comment on the conversation.
Vestas – Not interested
During the discussion Joan Ruddock also said that the government had carried out extensive talks with the management of Vestas and no matter what they offered, Vestas were not interested in keeping the factory open making wind turbine blades.
Sean said that the MP was also very sympathetic.
Meeting of all Vestas employees on Wednesday
There’s a call out to all (ex-)Vestas employees to attend a meeting on this coming Wednesday where Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, will talk about securing the best redundancies for those losing their jobs.
More details later.
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On the subject of money, it is reported on the internet that 13 Vestas Directors/Management last year secured £9.45m in salaries and bonuses.
Whilst I wouldn’t expect each person received the same, but taking an average each person would have received £726,000.
Not bad for one years service eh?
Now to the redundancies on the IoW: at a guess the average redundancy payout is going to be around £4,000 maybe a bit more, maybe even less but I won’t be far out with this guess, equating to a total of some £2.4m across 600 personnel. And this amount for people who worked one of the worst shift patterns going for the last year, worked in temperatures of up to 33 degrees centigrade with humidity around 40% to 50% in suits, gloves, masks, boots and glasses! Imagine working near the equator in a duffelcoat and hat and you won’t be far off!
People who worked in an environment with dangerous chemicals and noxious fumes and very very dusty.
Does anybody consider that to be fair given the company is shutting from a position of strength, is making huge profits and has raised huge sums of money from share issues?
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Nobody could disagree with you Trevor!
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Good news that the Government have now sat down with the trade unions and Vestas workers to consider the way ahead.Despite the lack of any official comment from the DECC Press Office, there appears to have been a positive tone set by Joan Ruddock-someone who has has a good record on a range of progressive issues over many years.
This development is a significant step forward and everyone involved in the campaign around the occupation so far can be proud of the way their efforts have forced the issues involved on to the national and international agenda. The RMT, locally, regionally and nationally has shown a positive and determined lead and has been well supported by a number of local activists from other trade unions and many other campaigners from all over the country.
Recognition should also be given to Councillor Geoff Lumley for ensuring that the Vestas issue was debated at the last full Council meeting and for his efforts, along with a number of other local Labour Party members, in continuing to raise the matter with Government ministers behind the scenes in the attempt to ensure that all possible channels of communication are kept open.
However,we all still need to maintain maximum pressure locally to ensure a positive backcloth for the vital talks needed to ensure reinstatement for the sacked Vestas workers and the best possible deal for all. We also have to keep pressing the Government, as well as the local Tory Council and M.P., to ensure that the Island can maintain a credible manufacturing base and that vital skills are retained to ensure that we have the biggest possible stake in developing a green economy.
My own trade union,Unison,will continue to support the efforts of the RMT and climate change campaigners to keep up the momentum over the important week ahead.It is essential that the rallies to be held at the Vestas site(12 noon Friday) and in St Thomas’Square, Newport (1 p.m. on Saturday are attended by as many people as possible,not only to show that we care about the future of the Island, but also that we appreciate and applaud the efforts of the Vestas workers in their courageous defence of green jobs
Trevor Smith makes some excellent points about the working conditions of many staff and the need for this to be taken into account in any new talks with the company.Good luck to the RMT and Vestas workers in the days ahead!
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Joan Ruddock has a real nerve. Vestas has been trying to get the government to support the business on the island for years. It is because of government procastination on issues such as planning for wind farms that we are in this situation now – I can’t believe she is trying to blame Vestas! Vestas is a business not a charity – the environment has to be right for it to survive.
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