Day of action shows growing support for Vestas workers

Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Isle of Wight last week as part of a national day of action as part of the campaign to save jobs at the Vestas wind turbine factory.

Around 100 activists spread themselves out to the four corners of the Isle of Wight the town centres of Newport, Cowes, Ryde and Sandown where they gathered thousands of signatures for a petition to save the factory.

And in the evening another 100 came together for a rally and march around the second Vestas factory in Cowes, which is the site of an ongoing rooftop protest.

The day showed that, despite the end of the workers' occupation at the Vestas plant in Newport, the campaign to save jobs is gathering momentum.

Former Vestas occupier Mark Smith told Socialist Worker, "The campaign is still growing. There are workers here today who I haven't seen at any of the rallies before.

"We've got workers speaking all over the country today but there are still lots here. We organised this day really quickly and it's been very good. Hopefully the next one will be even bigger and better."

The workers have now formed a committee to co-ordinate the continuing campaign. It has called a second national day of action for Wednesday 9 September.

Meanwhile solidarity with the Vestas workers continues to grow in towns and cities across Britain.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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