15.09.2009
Blade Runner Protest launched from Power Boat [post-arrest update at bottom]
Using Southampton’s Boat Show as cover, protesters have arrived by power-boat this morning to occupy cranes and vessels at the city’s docks.
Coming from the Vestas factory blockade on the Isle Of Wight, the group aim to prevent the loading of wind-turbine blades from the Newport plant, which was closed in July with the loss of 600 jobs.
“We made these blades, and now Vestas want to take their profits and leave us high and dry,” said ex-Vestas worker Jamie Rigby, who is stationed at the dock entrance, Jamie was one of 11 workers sacked for occupying their factory after Vestas announced the mass lay-off in July. The occupation ended in August after 18 days, and on that occasion Jamie leapt uninjured from a balcony rather than be escorted out by bailiffs.
Jamie is joined today by supporters from the island community, climate activists and workers from the mainland, who have hung banners saying “Wind power to the people” and locked themselves to a crane loading blades onto the BBC Ohio in Empress Dock. Others have occupied the so-called ‘Blade Runner’ Barge which is needed to fetch the remaining blades from the St Cross factory in Newport. They have a banner which reads, “Our blades, Our power”. The barge is visible to the east from the Town Quay, which is also a Red Star Terminal for IOW passengers.
On the crane at Empress Dock, Jackie Sheedy said, “ After the factory occupation ended, Vestas and the government hoped we’d all just quieten down. But we’re united in this blockade. The island workers need those jobs, and we all need them if we want even a chance of combating climate change for our children.”
Speaking by phone from the occupied Blade Runner barge, Robin Sivapalan, a Unison member from the group Workers Climate Action, said “Workers like Jamie were victimised and robbed of their redundancy pay for taking a stand on behalf of all of us,. If Vestas want the blockade lifted, they had better start talking about re-instatement and terms. And if the government want the protests to end they had better drop the greenwash and start taking some real action for a renewable power industry in this country”.
Meanwhile, other sacked Vestas workers are at the TUC conference in Liverpool, lobbying the labour movement for solidarity action and support on Thursdays “National Day of Action”, while
workers from the Lush Cosmetics factory in Poole, Dorset, are taking part in direct action training at the Vestas Marine Gate blockade on the Newport-Cowes cycle path, Newport IOW.
ENDS
Location: BBC Ohio and cranes – Empress Dock, Eastern Docks, Southampton
Blade Runner barge – Opposite Town Quay, (Red Funnel Terminal)
Best view: Blade Runner east from Town Quay;
BBC Ohio and cranes – restricted access through Oceanographic Centre, or by sea/air.
Contacts:
On the Docks protest: Jackie Sheedy, 07944 744922;
Jamie Rigby (sacked Vestas worker), 07875 441668 and Martin Shaw 07950539254 at END OF TOWN QUAY, Southampton.
Robin Sivapalan, 07974 331053
For interview off site: Ian Terry at TUC conference, 07970 739921
Mark Smith at TUC conference, 07980703115
Lush Campaigns Manager: Andrew Butler on 07876 596541
Background:
http://savevestas.wordpress.com
http://ventnorblog.com
Campaign Video including Jamie’s jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4CrTEFtSGU
Shipping and Docks info:
http://www.ais-live.co.uk/AIS%20Live/aissolent.html and http://www.abports.co.uk/files/southampton%202008.pdf
workersclimateaction.info@googlemail.com
http://workersclimateaction.wordpress.com
——-
Update: Vestas Crane Activists Charged and Released
16th September 2009 – 3pm
The four Vestas supporters arrested yesterday have just been released after 17 hours of detention in Southampton police station. Originally threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act they have now been charged with aggravated trespass after spending seven hours locked on to Vestas cranes in Southampton Docks.They have been bailed to return to court on the 29th of September. Their bail conditions include non-association with one another and they have been banned from entering all Vestas sites in Southampton and on the Isle of Wight. One of the activists suffered minor injuries during the traumatic police removal.
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 voilently through her arms and legs whilst police watched on and videod 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 messagesof 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.”
It has been revealed that the actions have delayed transport of the wind turbine blades to the US by a day, as was intended. However there is little doubt that the blades will eventually be moved due to the lack of demand for wind farms in the UK. We have the components for green energy right here, right now so why are we not using them to full effect?
Vestas workers have been talking about their struggle at the TUC conference happening this week in Liverpool. There is also a national day of action taking place in support of Vestas workers tomorrow, September 17th. The protest will continue untill the demands of the campaign have been met.
For further information please call: 07950 539254 or Jamie ex-vestas occupier:07875441668
For further campaign information see website: savevestas.wordpress.com