Controversial wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has won a possession order to evict the 20 workers protesting inside its Isle of Wight factory.
The employees, most of whom were handed P45s last week for their part in the strike action, have been staging the sit-in for 15 days, but Vestas today won a court order to remove them from the Newport plant.
The workers locked themselves in the factory in protest over plans to close it down at the cost of 625 jobs.
The protest has earned widespread support, with demonstrators picketing Vestas offices as far away as Sweden. Yesterday seven students were arrested after gluing themselves together in front of Climate Minister Ed Miliband’s London offices.
More than 150 protesters have marched from the courtrooms to the plant after hearing the verdict, and will now discuss the situation with the occupying workers.
Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, who was in court for the hearing, said the union would continue with its campaign to save the jobs.
He stated: "The court has made its decision but we will continue with our campaign and the right to work on green energy jobs."
And workers inside the factory have vowed to continue fighting once they are on the outside.
Meanwhile, three people have climbed onto the rooftop of a nearby Vestas building in Cowes in support of the workers. Members of a climate group scaled the factory at 4am this morning and have warned they are ready for a long protest as the battle to save Vestas continues.
Sandra Gidley, Liberal Democrat MP for Test Valley, commented on the Vestas protest: "How can the UK expect to be taken seriously by other governments if we can't keep our own green industry going? Political backing for renewable energy has come a long way in the last couple of years, but now that progress is in danger.
"Furthermore, the Government is showing a real lack of commitment to local businesses, which need as much support as possible. As a party the Liberal Democrats are committed to a sustainable UK environment policy and support for local businesses.
"I hope the Secretary of State will prove to me that the Government’s promises aren't just a lot of hot air."
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