World Workers' Movements Newswire Archive

some of the road protesters from the 1990s would like to see a worldwide children's revolution with the children of the eco-warriors leading the global climate change marches and demonstrations on 24 october 2009

'Failure is not an option' for Vestas, according to their Business Strategy. It's not an option for the campaign to save the Newport, Isle of Wight factory either. We have the 'Will to win' that Vestas' CEO claims Vestas' have. The factory will reopen. Wind Turbine Blades will be produced in the UK, for the UK. Workers will be unionised. You never know, the factory might even be a workers' coop.

Vestas claim they are 'Number 1. in Modern Energy', and indeed are responsible for developing and installing much of the world's wind/renewable energy. However, they've shown their true colours (not so 'green' after all) this summer - through closing their St. Cross Business Park, Dodnor Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight factory, leading to the loss of 600 jobs. Unions were banned & working conditions deteriorating prior to closure, & 11 workers who occupied the factory to save it have been paid no redundancy. There will be a long-term campaign as a result. Will it effect Vestas Share Price? Watch This Space:  http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q?s=VWS.CO

A4e are among the private companies that Cameron and Brown have employed to come up with the conclusion that a billion pounds worth of cuts can be made by shifting the disabled onto job seekers. This will be hailed as a brand new policy at the Tory Conference.

The CJS Dynamic Benefits report outlines a scheme to abolish all benefits and replace them with two. All surpluses from abolished benefits will be channelled to service providers in a bonanza of Corporate Welfare. Unsuprisingly the report was written by former A4e and Lloyds Directors. It will be Tory Policy at the next election.

Anarchism is an ideology that fights against exploitation and all forms of oppression. We fight for a world in which women will be equal to men, a world without racism and class inequality, a world in which LGBTI and queer people are treated with respect.These struggles are part of the anarchist struggle against hierarchy and inequality, for an equal and free world.Anarchists have been at the forefront in the struggle against LGBTI discrimination

Update from Kennedy Road by Abahlali_3 on Thu, 2009-10-01 in Kennedy Road

Friends and comrades, the movement is still under attack in Kennedy Road and the police are still failing to protect us. The settlement is now run by the chairperson of the local ANC branch, Jackson Gumede, and his armed mob. Gumede is asking people to show ANC cards. Senior people in the ANC and the police continue to offer open and public support for the attacks. None of the people that attacked us and destroyed our homes have been arrested. Many of us are still sleeping in the bush and in the streets. There has been another death in hospital. Our members from across 34 settlements in Durban, and some from other settlements as far away as Cape Town, will soon meet in a secret location. We will formulate a plan of action and draft and issue a full and official press statement.

Leafing through company reports is usually a thankless and dull task. No so with Vestas - all sorts of fascinating opinion. Here's to a community buy out of the St. Corss Business Park, Dodnor Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight factory by ex-workers, locals, Climate Campers, Bicycologists, Climate Rushers, Workers Liberty, SWP & SP, Green Party, with financial support from Ecotricity and others shall we?

The Lambeth Branch of UNISON - the second largest trade union in the UK - has voted to reaffirm its solidarity with Palestinians living under Israeli Military Occupation at its Branch Committee meeting on 17th September 2009 and support the Viva Palestina convoy taking place in December.

Since the removal of the 'Marine Gate' 'Blade Blockade', and the Turbine Blades that remained in the Vestas Blades UK factory on St. Cross Business Park, Dodnor Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, campaigners have been sorting out the original 'Magic Roundabout' Camp, and considering strategy. A Marquee has been erected and a fair amount of furniture skipped / built to make the area comfortable and well-resourced in terms of power (80-odd watts of solar power for phone and laptop charging), a solar shower, and spare tents for visitors.

Here are some good links and statements about last weekend's murderous attacks on the Durban-based grassroots struggle Abahlali, the Shack Dwellers Movement. There was a small picket held in solidarity with Abahlali yesterday (Wednesday) outside the South African Embassy in London called by the London Coalition Against Poverty and other supporters. LCAP has only recently hosted two meetings by Abahlali activists who came to discuss and seek support for the movement and so these horrific attacks are particularly poignant.

The Lambeth Branch of UNISON - the second largest trade union in the UK - has voted to establish environmental reps in workplaces across the Borough. At a meeting of the Lambeth Branch Committee on 15th September, Branch activists agreed to encourage Lambeth UNISON members to elect environmental representatives within their places of work.

Constant Moussavou has left the UK
"Thank you all for your letters/support unfortunately the Home Office did not want to listen and Constant was removed to Congo Brazzaville on Wednesday 9th September. We have not heard from him since. Please let me know if anyone does here from or of him."

Yours sincerely,

Priya Thamotheram, Chair, Leicester Civil Rights Movement.
Sanctuary for Constant Moussavou

There has been a camp outside the Vestas factory on the St. Cross Business Park, Dodnor Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, since at least the beginning of the Occupation of the factory on 20th July this year. The camp has a well established kitchen run by volunteers who serve quality vegan evening meals 'Roundabout 8', with lunch and breakfast also provided and sometimes cooked too. Those who occupied the factory are often present, together with climate campers and those from assorted lefty groups and unions. Get down there and join 'em! ...and take some cake with ya!

GET FAIRTRADE & FRUITY for democracy NOW!
Contact details for Protest against Honduras embassies & CEOs responsible for organising the continuing terrorist coup, that was mainly done to stop a very basic minimal wage for the majority of Hondurans who live in dire poverty
Support UN calls for international intervention against Gorilletis the banana thieves

Unemployment Benefits give Businesses a 90% wage bill reduction. While Unemployment is at high, benefits rates are at an all time, historical low. This is resulting in a nett transfer of wealth from private individuals to shareholders.

PITTSBURGH — Police fired canisters of pepper spray and smoke at marchers protesting the Group of 20 summit Thursday after anarchists responded to calls to disperse by rolling trash bins and throwing rocks. The march turned chaotic at just about the time that President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived for a meeting with leaders of the world's major economies.

“We will continue the struggle for democracy,” said Zelaya, as the crowd voiced their desire for a new constitution. “This time I won’t be caught napping,” joked Zelaya, referring to the episode on June 28, when the military accosted him in his pajamas.

Later, when the lights were cut, there were fears the authorities might storm the gates at any moment, and side arms were handed out to security guards. The lights soon returned courtesy of the compound’s generator (and gas supplied by La Resistencia). The expected attack didn’t come until dawn, when police launched tear gas shells into the courtyard, and forcibly occupied neighboring buildings."

Workers belonging to the Coalition Against Contractualization (KONTRA) today marched to Mendiola to mark the anniversary of the signing of Proclamation 1081 that imposed Martial Law 37 years ago and to reaffirm their vows to never again let the country slip into darkness.

It's really important that people get down to Vestas ASAP to prevent the last few Wind Turbine Blades remaining in the St Cross Business Park, Newport, IOW factory, and in Southampton Docks, from leaving to America. This is a really good piece of leverage to argue for reinstatement of sacked workers, better redundancy packages, installation of the blades on turbines in the UK, a buyout of the factory and worker control of it, and better Energy and Climate Change policies from govt, businesses, trade unions, individuals etc. Get on it!