Turbine Firm's Bid To End Sit-In Fails

Owners of the wind turbine company Vestas have failed in a bid to remove 25 workers staging a sit-in in protest at its Isle of Wight factory.

The staff have been occupying the Newport offices since 20 July, as part of a campaign to prevent the plant from closing down and 625 jobs being lost.

Letters were delivered to the workers telling them they were being dismissed with immediate effect and that they were not entitled to any compensation because of their action.

The action comes after Danish firm Vestas said it had dismissed 11 workers who had began an occupation of the plant a week ago.

Vestas has blamed the closure on a lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK.

The company applied at Newport County Court for a possession order. However, a judge ruled that removal papers had not been served in accordance with legal rules.

Vestas had named individuals in its court summons and should have served papers to each of them.

However the firm only served them to one of the protesters inside who said he would pass them on, the court heard.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday.

A campaign to save the plant was launched by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union together with environmental and climate change activists.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the union said the move was a "victory" for the workers who are campaigning to save the factory from closure.

Mr Crow added: "No one should underestimate the significance of the court throwing out Vestas' repossession application today,"

"This is a significant victory which gives us more time to build the global campaign to save Vestas."

(JM/BMcC)