'It's not too late to save England's last wind turbine plants' says Unite

July 21 2009

Unite the union is urging the government to work with management at Vestas to save England's only wind turbine manufacturing plants at the Isle of Wight and Southampton which are to close on Friday 24 July, with the loss of 625 jobs and the transfer of production to China and the US.

Unite is supporting Vestas workers in their fight for their future. Not only will 625 workers lose their jobs the effect on the local community will be devastating. It is not easy for an Island economy to recover from such a serious blow, with up to a quarter of the manufacturing jobs on the island threatened.

If the government is serious about meeting its legally binding target on renewable energy and climate change targets, and meeting last week's pledge for 400,000 green jobs, it needs to take action to save England's only wind turbine manufacturing capacity.

The UK has the best 'wind resources' in Europe but currently generates just five per cent of electricity from this source, less than most other large economies. The government is legally bound to increase this to 35% by 2020, which will mean a huge market for the type of products currently being made on the Isle of Wight.

John Rowse, Unite national secretary for manufacturing, said: "It is not too late to save these plants. If the government addresses the blockages in the planning system to counter the 'Not-in-my-back-yard 'brigade then there will be massively increased demand for wind turbines.

We urge the government to match its green rhetoric with action to support green jobs, saving Vestas would send out a clear message that it is serious about saving the environment as well as supporting UK manufacturing."

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