Protesters demostrate against the loss of wind turbine jobs

That was the rallying cry of protesters campaigning against the closure of Vestas wind turbine factories with the loss of 425 jobs.

Angry demonstrators on both sides of the Solent at Town Quay’s Red Funnel Terminal and in East Cowes protested in anger at yesterday’s announcement by the company that it would no longer produce the blades at its Isle of Wight and Southampton sites.

Workers’ relatives joined climate campaigners and residents to show their support for those made redundant by waving placards during a march to Southampton Civic Centre. At the same time Island protesters staged a march around East Cowes.

Today former workers are coming to terms with looking for new jobs during the worst unemployment in 12 years after they were dismissed with immediate effect yesterday.

The redundancies mean Vestas’Woolston site in Hazel Road – which employs 100 people – will close completely.

Andy Duncombe, of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said the RMT wanted the Government to step in to save the turbine factory.

“The Government is financing the banks but shows no support for the green issues that they say they are promoting.

“We would like them to provide a nationalised company that provides solar, wind and tidal energy,”

added Mr Duncombe, who was among the 50 protesters at Southampton’s rally.

Vestas’ decision comes after an 18-day occupation by workers at the Island’s factory in Newport that ended last week when bailiffs removed them.

However, the firm has said 40 workers have been found new roles within the Vestas research and development facility on the Isle of Wight.

And 57 employees will continue to work at the factory for a further period to help in its closure.

Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades, said: “The decision to close the factory was very difficult and we fully recognise the impact this will have on employees, their families and on the Isle of Wight.

“Nonetheless, this commercial decision was absolutely necessary to secure Vestas’ competitiveness and create a regional balance between production and the demand for wind turbines.

“We understand and have sympathy that employees are deeply affected by the 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.

“The employee representatives and the local factory management have worked closely with local job centres and career counsellors to ensure employees have received professional help to identify alternative career and employment opportunities.”

The redundancies come four months after Vestas first announced it would reduce production capacity in Northern Europe due to market conditions.

At the same time the Danish owned company has invested in a significant production base in the United States that makes the same type of blades.

Vestas said plans to convert production at the Island and Southampton factories to a blade type more suitable for the UK market were discontinued due to market conditions and weak currencies.