Hannah Short, whose partner is protesting, with their baby, Violet. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
MASSED ranks of supporters from trade unions and environmental groups from across Britain descended on the Island in a graphic demonstration of solidarity with the sit-in Vestas workers.
A protest camp of around a dozen tents has been pitched outside the factory gates, where mass demonstrations have been taking place all week in support of the 25 employees who have shut themselves inside.
Family members of those inside lent their often vociferous support.
Hannah Short, 19, whose partner, Luke, was inside the building, had brought along their 16-month-old baby, Violet.
"I am really proud of him. The £200 redundancy he was offered was not even enough for the rent. Vestas has treated them so badly. I hope we can gain something from this.
"The Isle of Wight seems to have been forgotten by the government," she said.
Another 26-year-old supporter, who did not want to be named, but whose husband was part of the sit-in, was realistic about the risks.
"I am expecting our baby and I realise we may lose our house. It is a bit scary, because we don’t know how it is going to end but I think what he is doing is great," she said.
Among organisations represented on site, many of whom were sleeping in tents, were trade unions, the RMT, Unison, Unite, the Fire Brigades’ Union, people from Rolls Royce in Bristol and the shop stewards’ committee from the Lindsey oil refinary in Lincolnshire, where strikes against the employment of foreign workers took place in June, as well as protesters from Workers’ Climate Action.
The site is being guarded by a private security firm, while police are also in attendance.
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk