Vestas closes factories, making 425 redundant
Peta Hodge
12th August 2009
As events were taking place around the country today in a ‘national day of action’ in support of Vestas workers, the Danish-owned wind turbine company confirmed the closure of its blade manufacturing plant on the Isle of Wight and another factory in Southampton, making 425 employees redundant.
Employees were informed of the decision today, following the conclusion of the formal consultation process and an 18-day sit-in by 11 employees at the Isle of Wight plant, which ended last Friday when the bailiffs were sent in.
Vestas said today that it had considered various proposals to “mitigate the job losses” during the consultation process. As a result, it confirmed that 40 staff have been found new roles within the company’s research and development facility on the Isle of Wight, while a further 57 will continue to work at the factory to assist with its closure.
"Throughout the consultation period, minimising the impact on employees and providing all the support we can in this situation has been our first and foremost priority,” said Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades.
The company said the redundancy payments available to those who have lost their jobs will be more than double the statutory minimum.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper today, Vestas ceo Ditlev Engel also indicated that the company might be prepared to look again at the decision to strip the workers involved in the recent protest of their redundancy package.
But while Vestas’ decision to close the factory now looks irreversible, campaigners are still calling for Government intervention to retain a blade manufacturing plant on the Isle of Wight.
Today, police on the island were warning people to stay away from the East Cowes area where a rally with “the potential to attract a large number of people” is planned for this evening.
“We recognise the importance of this issue to the local community, understand the strong feelings and opinions of those affected, and have maintained an independent role throughout the dispute on the island,” said Hampshire Constabulary’s Isle of Wight District Chief Inspector Mark Bell.
“Hampshire Constabulary is committed to ensuring people’s rights to protest peacefully are upheld, and will endeavour to reduce any disruption to the local community and travelling commuters as far as possible.”
Meanwhile, campaigners who continue to occupy the rooftop of a building in East Cowes, were installing solar panels and a mini wind turbine to power laptop computers and mobile phones so they could continue their protest against the closure of Vestas wind turbine plant.