There has been a lot of concern by the Vestas workers on the outside of Vestas Blades in Newport for lack of food available to their colleagues on the inside.
To recap: Vestas stance on food supplies is, Yes they can have food, but they must leave the building to collect it – and they won’t be allowed back in again, obviously ending the protest for them.
The concern over this reached a high point yesterday evening at 7:30pm when money raised by the Island’s Fire brigade union was used to go and buy them more supplies.
These supplies were gathered into four plastic bags and an approach made to the police to allow the food to be taken to those in side, when it became clear that the police weren’t going to allow the food in, the crowd grew.
Watch the video (be aware of swearing) …
The waiting game
After a little time, a single man with the food bags remained after the police asked the others to go back behind the cordon. He awaited a reply as to if he could take it to those inside at the sit-in.
Before we left, he had got an umbrella from the other supporters in an effort to fend off some of the rain falling on the food.
The police there radioed to find out from Vestas management if the food could be allowed through, thinking the answer should come back in a matter of five minutes.
We’ve learnt today that he patiently waited there with the food for four hour in support of his colleagues (see right).
Some of the protesters at the cordon sought clarification from the police as to which law was being used to stop the food delivery.
When close to an hour had passed, Isle of Wight Lib Dem representatives, Jill Wareham and Adrian Whittaker, attempted to negotiate with the police to allow the food through, but to no immediate solution.
Second image: loislane999, rest VentnorBlog
