The banner on the RMT plane showing support for the Vestas workers, which reads Save Our Jobs, Save the Island. Picture by Laura Holme.
A MESSAGE of support for the Vestas sit-in protestors streaked across the sky last night (Thursday).
A banner attached to a plane proclaimed: "Save Our Jobs Save the Island."
Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, which funded the flypast, told hundreds of supporters outside the factory that the union would air-drop food supplies to the sit-in protestors from a helicopter if necessary.
Given the government is most unlikely to nationalise the Vestas plant to save jobs for the Island, Labour councillor Geoff Lumley approached the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband MP, on Wednesday.
Cllr Lumley wanted to explore the possibility of a local consortium being set up to take over the plant and using new government grants to change blade production to meet UK offshore demand .
However, Cllr Lumley has learnt this is not an option available to the Island, primarily due to the absence of 'assisted area’ status for the Isle of Wight.
Cllr Lumley said: "I am massively disappointed and frustrated that there seems to be no alternative way forward, at least in the short term.
"However, nothing has been lost by my approach and I will continue to seek ways in which these 600 jobs can be retained."
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk