Vestas has blamed the closure on a drop in demand Six sit-in protesters at a wind turbine blade factory on the Isle of Wight will be removed by bailiffs at 1200 BST on Friday unless they leave beforehand. The workers have remained inside Vestas' Newport plant since 20 July in a protest at plans to axe 625 jobs. The Danish firm won a possession order on Tuesday but was forced to apply for a warrant to remove the workers. Bailiffs, who can use "reasonable force" to evict the men, gave them 24 hours notice earlier. Newport County Court told the BBC approval for the warrant was an administrative process. We have said all along we will come out peacefully when it ends
Sit-in protester One of the workers inside the building said: "We are all still saying we want to stay as long as we can. "But we have said all along we will come out peacefully when it ends. "We don't want to give in to Vestas management, considering the way they have treated us." Three workers left the sit-in for personal reasons on Tuesday and another had to leave to prepare for a charity cycle ride. Six workers remain inside but the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said that at times up to 25 people were involved in the sit-in inside the factory. The sit-in protesters were served with the eviction notice on Thursday Peter Kruse, Vestas spokesman, said: "This is just the natural step in the development. "We are hoping for a peaceful outcome of this occupation. "We have always understood the frustrations of the workers but have been surprised at the length of this action." Vestas has blamed the plans to lay off the 625 workers on a drop in demand. Meanwhile five people are continuing a rooftop protest at Vestas' Venture Quays building in Cowes. The four men and one woman climbed on to the building on Tuesday and have hung banners reading "In solidarity with the Vestas workers" and "Fight for green jobs". One of them, 44-year-old Martin Shaw, said: "We will wait to see what the Vestas guys do once this warrant is served. "If they think us staying here will help the cause we will do that."
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Six occupiers remain inside the factory 
An eviction notice has been served on the occupiers remaining in the Vestas factory in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, occupiers confirm. The eviction notice states that police will remove the occupiers at noon BST tomorrow, August 7.

The occupiers of the Vestas factory have pledged to go peacefully when the police enter. Only six occupiers are believed to remain in the building, of the original 25. "Mike", speaking from inside the occupation, said that the six remaining workers have no plans to leave until the police enter the factory, but also noted that protesters gathered outside the factory will try to stop them, without physical confrontation. "We're getting everyone in town down here — workers, family, trade union members."

While the occupiers remain short of food, Mike describes their situation as "fine. We're used to it now."

Mike expressed hope that police and the law would treat them leniently, as took place at the end of the Thomas Cook occupation in Dublin, Ireland earlier this week. The police have been "very friendly. We can't fault them" noted Mike, who pointed out that occupiers leaving the factory have not even been cautioned. 

After the eviction takes place the occupiers plan to continue fighting the company, first joining the demonstrators and then speaking around the country. "We will carry on even when we are taken out of here. We will continue to fight this. We aren't just going to give up."

The occupiers, all employees of Vestas, began their sit-in on July 20 after Vestas announced plans to shut down production of wind turbines in Northern Europe, at the cost of 575 jobs in Newport and over 1400 jobs elsewhere in England and in Denmark. Mike says that other wind turbine companies have invited the Vestas Newport employees to apply for jobs at their locations, but those factories are in other parts of England or Europe and would require the workers to relocate.