Author: Sal
Vestas Protest: Arrested Crane Occupiers Charged: Updated
Wednesday, 16th September, 2009 at 5:28 pm, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, Overseas, Vestas Sit-In
The four people, three women and one man who yesterday occupied cranes in Dock 4 Southampton were charged this afternoon with aggravated trespass.
They were arrested yesterday evening after climbing the cranes and occupying them for seven hours in order to stop completed blades being shipped from Southampton.
We understand from Police that they have been released on bail and are all due to appear before Southampton Magistrates Court on 29 September.
In a press release from the Worker’s Climate Action it’s claimed that
The four now intend to press charges against Vestas shipping manager for ordering the two crane drivers to recklessly endanger their lives by turning on both cranes and moving the boom whilst one protester was attached to the moving parts that were then pulled violently through her arms and legs whilst police watched on and videoed the incident.
One of the four, Jacqueline Sheedy said: “Throughout the action we were peacefully occupying the crane and Vestas arrogance and quest for profits drove them to risk our lives in order to remove us in an attempt to carry on loading the blades as quickly as possible. The behaviour of Vestas management throughout has shown scant regard for the health and safety of their workforce and little sign of humanity in dealing with the closure of the factory. Dock workers in Southampton were calling us during this incident incredulous that this could happen, as did the RMT legal team.
“We were inundated with messages of encouragement from workers and activists around the while on the cranes and this is yet more proof that this campaign is far from over and that it is only a small part of what will soon prove to be a much more widespread struggle for workers rights and the environment.”
Related posts:
- Vestas Protesters Climb Up Southampton Crane: Updated (Photos and podcast)
Action continue today in Southampton.... - Vestas Protest: Occupying Protesters Face Arrest Under Terrorism Act
We're told that Vestas protesters occupying cranes and barges in... - Vestas Protest: Occupiers Meet With SEEDA (podcast)
Vestas occupiers met with SEEDA yesterday.... - Vestas Protest: Cranes Being Moved Whilst Still Occupied (photos)
We’ve just been informed from onlookers at the Southampton dockside... - Vestas Protest Diverted Along Dual Carriageway: Updated (photos)
We spoke to Dave (Arbo) Arbuthnott about how the march...
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Gah!!
So now they are threatening to sue an employee of Vestas who is also being made redundant, in the name of what?? Oh yes, because they are protesting on behalf of the Vestas workers who have been made redundant??
How is this helping anyone?? Surely this is the same twisted logic as trying to stop blades from being shipped while fighting against climate change?
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Exactly these people should be treated as what they are …. Trouble makers with nothing better to do than cause trouble.
These green protesters who are stopping the shipping of a green product…. Very Intelligent!!
Like those on the island who are protesting that vestas should give up the st cross site and at the same time blocking the site clearance work.
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I couldn’t agree more. And people don’t seem to realise that the St Cross site is NOT closed – Vestas is using it as a blade testing facility employing about 60 people – if Vestas are forced out they will lose their jobs too – along with around 150 technology jobs and 150 proposed new jobs when the new technology centre is open. But this protest is not about jobs or even about climate change – it’s about a bunch of inadequate people being able to label themselves ‘activists’ and make themselves feel important.
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I have read lots of negative comments within the numerous replies to articles published on this site about the ‘Vestas Workers Campaign’. And would like to stress that without all the help and assistance offered and accepted, from supporters of various groups and varying walks of life. The workers themselves would not have been sufficient in numbers to have achieved what they have thus far.
Many use the name ‘Activists’ when describing those of us in society who are prepared to put energy and time into fighting for what we and others believe in, I would be bolder and call us ‘Campaigners’, those who above all odds have the courage of their convictions, to stand up and be counted!!.
Furthermore, if all the ‘Negative NIMBYS’ of not only the Isle Of Wight but throughout the UK gave any real thought and consideration to what sort of planet they are going to leave, their children and future generations. They would realise the importance of what should be taking place with the erection of ‘Wind Energy Turbines’ which Vestas would have then continued to manufacture on the Isle Of Wight. Thus preventing the present situation of Redundant and Sacked workers fighting for the rights to work.
I cannot help wondering just how many know the true hardship and mental anxiety the Sacked Workers are experiencing, even more so when they read continued negative accusations written about them in the Ventnor Blog by fellow Islanders and former Vestas workers.
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As an activist (Twyford Down, Poll Tax, LACS etc) of many years I learnt that there is no point in chasing lost causes. I have no objection to volenteers assisting from any part of the country as long as what they are protesting about is worth protesting about….Vestas has closed that site, will not be re-opening it..they are gone, kaput, vamoose, it is a dead parrot.
Continued protest does not serve the ex-Vestas employees, the current Vestas employees, the Ilsand as a whole or the ‘green’ campaign’
Discontent with these protests will grow..the few voices on here are just the start..then there will be a media backlash, personal details of protestors will be revealed etc…..its happened before.
Knowing when to stop is a skill
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…And knowing when to keep going and not give up is also a skill.
Because the whole country was inspired by the Vestas workers stand, and because unions and well-wishers from all over the country as well as the island have given so much support, this campaign has started things moving in a much more positive direction with regards to the future of wind power and green manufacturing jobs on the IOW and nationally. It’s also secured a better deal for alot of ex-vestas workers.
But it’s not over yet, for the very simple reason that the 11 courageous men who started these amazing events are the one group who are still being punished by being denied the redundancy pay they need to keep going while they try to rebuild their lives.
All you complainers, just come clean – do you think the 11 should have their redundancy pay re-instated or not. If you don’t, shame on you. And if you do, can you come up with a better strategy for dealing with a company who are still refusing to talk?
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What are they going to gain?
I feel sorry for the 11 who decided that a sit in protest was the best way forward..they were very badly advised. They should have taken their redundency.
The protestors have gained nothing…no wind farms on the Island (shame on us), No green company to replace Vestas (shame on the council)..They became minor celebraties for their ‘5 minutes’…but it is over now
I’m not a complainer…protest to your hearts content…but this one is over
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These stunts are not to cause trouble they are to raise awareness through media coverage and i am afriad even if you may disagree with the campaign there are thousands of people all over the country that do care this has been proven by the over welming support that the Vestas Workers recieved at the TUC conference for the last few days. Did you know that Ed Miliband made his speech today with the whole assembly of union officials stood holding save vestas spread sheets and green ribbons demanding answers. Did you also know that Vestas are in discussions over the St Cross site with the local council to allow other companies to use the factory. What a lot of people do not realise is that this campaign has really pushed the local council to actually fulfil the promises they made for an eco island over two years ago, and has spearheaded a national campaign for the government to change their policies on wind turbines and actually move forward with their renewable energy goals. They have also pushed the local council and SEEDA to work together to attract new companies to the island so I really dont understand how a few publicity stunts can offend anyone, and I certainly dont understand why some people are going to great lengths to defend a company which is happy to pick up and drop their employees at the drop of a hat without any responsibility?
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Well said Leanne – don’t let the negatives get you down. No-one is taking any notice of them anyway. Cheers to VB for keeping us up to date with it all. I’ll be wearing green tomorrow.
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Well said Leanne – don’t let the negatives get you down. No-one is taking any notice of them anyway. Cheers to VB for keeping us up to date with it all. I’ll be wearing green tomorrow.
Trevor
I don’t think anyone is really taking any notice of you..
I’m sorry about the people who lost their job, I had friends there, but they have gone out and found a job.
The only thing that will come out of these protests is that more people will loose their jobs…perhaps that is the goal..
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Leanne, don’t you think the idiotic, and potentially dangerous behaviour by Worker’s Climate Ation is actually detracting from the more positive and contructive efforts apparenntly being made by the ex Vestas employees?
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We won’t know how much support there is for publicity stunts since these people are not prepared to stand in elections and use the democratic process to get their ideas across. Of course people support ex Vestas workers – I do, I am one – the problem is the protest is irrational and counter productive – irrational because you’re preventing wind turbines from being used to help reduce carbon emissions and counter productive because you’re putting further jobs at risk. I did see Ed Millibands speech and I notice that he made it very clear that Vestas stopped production because there is no market for their blades – no company can continue to produce something they can’t sell. You say that Vestas is considering sharing the factory with other companies – is that one of the objectives of the protest? If so, why? I can tell you that there are plenty of empty units on the industrial estate, so it seems a pointless objective. You also talk about the Council and their ‘eco island’ policy – can you tell me what promises have now been fulfilled as a result of this campaign? And what new companies are coming to the Island? And how does picketing Vestas make them want to come?
I support Vestas workers, both current and Ex. I also support Vestas as a company – every day Vestas is installing wind farms and saving the atmosphere from thousands of tons of carbon emissions. If we’re going to do anything about climate change, I’m backing companies like Vestas – not climate change activists.
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totally agree with you Stuart, Mr Mister and Rob. there are PROPER ways of doing these things.
What the activist omit to say is the lives THEY have endangered by damaging the loading jetty at St Cross by unbolting the safty railings, platform and smashing all of the lights although they will deny it was them I suppose!. Have a peacefully protest but dont endanger lives and damage other peoples property in the process. Vesta’s demonstrators said they would have a peaceful protest, not take direct action and when the time came to move the blades they would step down (which most have i believe). Unfortunately some have themselves become activists taking part in this DIRECT action and committing criminal offences…shame on you.
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Threaten under the terrorism act and charged with trespass.Are the two the same? Did someone really have to think about what crime had been committed or did someone start at the top of the list worked down it until something realistic fitted into place. I could murder a cup of tea!!!
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You know what chaps?
Because the guys stood up and said “NO!” when Vestas betrayed their workforce; Because they refused to give in to intimidation and abandon their occupation; Because hundreds of vestas workers and supporters got active outside; Because the unions joined the struggle and made it a national issue; Because activists took solidarity action and continue to do so even now, when so many ex-workers are busy trying to rebuild their lives – several interesting things have happened:
1. Wind power and comittment to creating a green jobs economy is back on the public agenda.
2.The people of the Island are feeling good about the efforts they’ve made to defend these jobs, and are more empowered and united.
3. Real pressure is growing on the island for a change on wind turbine policy.
4. Ed Miliband is (finally) coming to the island for meaningful discussions about the future.
5. Ex-workers have recieved more wages and in some cases better redundancy payments.
One thing has NOT happened yet. The 11 workers who were sacked for making the stand which made all of this possible are still being denied the redundancy pay which is rightfully theirs. They worked for every penny of that money, some of them for many years, and now they are being punished. Vestas want the actions to stop? Pick up the phone.
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but the guys that got arrested were activists weren’t they? not Vesta’s ex employees? Once again endangering the lives of themselves and others in the process. maybe now the blades can get on there way from St Cross to make some GREEN energy somewhere!! and the site be used for other companies to do the same.
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You’re right Bob! The guys who got arrested on Wednesday were not ex-vestas workers, nor were all the other people who took supportive actions on Thursday. I think that’s great – that people are willing to put themselves out in support of other people who have been unfairly treated.
It’s the working-class principle of solidarity, and it’s something to be proud of. We all have a common need for decent treatment and a future planet, and none of us has to fight alone.
I didn’t get your other points though. They weren’t endangering anyone elses lives on that crane, and it’s up to them what risks they want to take with their own.
It doesn’t look like the blades are going to be moving from St Cross until the men who made them get their rightful redundancy pay, which is fair enough. And I would love to see the site being “used by other companies” but I think vestas want to mothball it for their own twisted profit-motivated reasons, and **** everyone else!
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wot about the people that had to get them down? we’re they not put at risk? i know you might say that they didnt have to go up 2 get them down but all the same they were put at risk
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Sorry! But once again the facts as usual are being twisted by people making wild guesses about what is going on in Support of the Redundent and Sacked Vestas Workers. It is not just confined to the Island, and if you check out this link you will see how far it spreads on the mainland:-http://maps.google.co.uk/
Moving onto Southampton and the Vestas Loading Dock which makes up part of the Empress Docks:
No one! actually went up the cranes and got our fellow supporters down. The reality is that the mobile loading cranes were started up with the campaigners inside the gib, and only inches away from all the working parts which drive the cable pullies. The crane gibs were then lowered and the campaigners removed and arrested.
So I ask you one and all!! Who was puting who’s life at risk?…..It certainly wasn’t the campaigners who were puting other peoples lives at risk!!
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If the link in my previous reply doesn’t work copy and paste this one into your browser and it should take you to the correct web page.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116826121475036804888.00047013650263ad7efeb
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Now the postal workers are threatening an all-out strike the Vesta protest will be soon be a forgotten issue. Just as the government knew all along that it would.And a few token green banners waved around at the Conference will make no difference.
The cause is for the moment dead,so go find something else to climb,you handful of professional protestors.You’ve done enough harm to the Island.
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The Vestas protest is still gathering strength both here on the Island, Mainland and Worldwide because decent positive thinking people realise that nothing ventured, means nothing gained! I hate to burst your bubble, but please note that among the protesters are Islanders like myself, Redundant and Sacked Workers, and numerous other non professional supporters. Who have reached a time in their working life, when they are fed up with constantly being exploited.
With regards to your statement concerning the Postal Workers threatening an all out strike! Why not become more green and use the internet to send e-mails, which in turn will help to save the forests from being cut down to make paper!!?
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Thus making all the postman redundent :-(
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and the lumber jack!
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