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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Protest at label's London stores | Protest at label's London stores |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 workers from the Burberry clothing factory in south Wales have taken their protest at closure plans to the label's top London stores. | More than 100 workers from the Burberry clothing factory in south Wales have taken their protest at closure plans to the label's top London stores. |
| They are handing out leaflets outside the firm's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe up to 300 job. | They are handing out leaflets outside the firm's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe up to 300 job. |
| GMB organiser Mervyn Burnett said: "The public have been very interested. They hadn't realised what is going on." | GMB organiser Mervyn Burnett said: "The public have been very interested. They hadn't realised what is going on." |
| Burberry says the Treorchy, Rhondda plant is not "commercially viable". | Burberry says the Treorchy, Rhondda plant is not "commercially viable". |
| Around 120 workers left south Wales before dawn for the demonstration, where they have been joined by London-based GMB union activists. | Around 120 workers left south Wales before dawn for the demonstration, where they have been joined by London-based GMB union activists. |
| Campaigners say the firm does not need to shut the Treorchy plant, which makes polo shirts, and point to the firm's £74m profits for the first half of this year. | Campaigners say the firm does not need to shut the Treorchy plant, which makes polo shirts, and point to the firm's £74m profits for the first half of this year. |
| They say closing the Rhondda-based factory would add only 2% to Burberry's profits. | They say closing the Rhondda-based factory would add only 2% to Burberry's profits. |
| The London protest, expected to last two hours, was an hour late in starting after the convoy was delayed by snow on the M4 in Wales. It began with a march from Marble Arch. | |
| Burberry does not need to move manufacturing abroad - sales are up - profits are up Mervyn Burnett, GMB union | Burberry does not need to move manufacturing abroad - sales are up - profits are up Mervyn Burnett, GMB union |
| Last week Burberry agreed to put back the factory closure from the end of the year to 31 March 2007. | Last week Burberry agreed to put back the factory closure from the end of the year to 31 March 2007. |
| But this was called a "slight reprieve" by the politicians and union leaders leading the campaign to have Burberry drop the closure plans altogether. | But this was called a "slight reprieve" by the politicians and union leaders leading the campaign to have Burberry drop the closure plans altogether. |
| Mr Burnett said the demonstration on Saturday aimed to show the public how Burberry was "dumping people on the scrapheap". | Mr Burnett said the demonstration on Saturday aimed to show the public how Burberry was "dumping people on the scrapheap". |
| 'Social policy' | 'Social policy' |
| He said: "Everybody recognises Burberry as a British label. Everybody assumes the good are make the UK. | He said: "Everybody recognises Burberry as a British label. Everybody assumes the good are make the UK. |
| The protesters left before dawn for the trip to London | |
| "This closure will see a third of the manufacturing workforce of Burberry moved away. We know it's going to Asia, probably China. | "This closure will see a third of the manufacturing workforce of Burberry moved away. We know it's going to Asia, probably China. |
| "Burberry does not need to move manufacturing abroad. Sales are up. Profits are up. | "Burberry does not need to move manufacturing abroad. Sales are up. Profits are up. |
| "They have a social policy in terms of their employees and the environment. They are just dumping that policy in pursuit of more profits." | "They have a social policy in terms of their employees and the environment. They are just dumping that policy in pursuit of more profits." |
| The campaign to keep the factory open has been led by Rhondda politicians Leighton Andrews AM, who travelled from Wales on one of the coaches, and Chris Bryant MP who met the protest in London. | The campaign to keep the factory open has been led by Rhondda politicians Leighton Andrews AM, who travelled from Wales on one of the coaches, and Chris Bryant MP who met the protest in London. |
| Burberry has three shops in central London, one each in Bond Street and Regent Street and one in Knightsbridge. There are also concessions at Harrods and Harvey Nichols. | Burberry has three shops in central London, one each in Bond Street and Regent Street and one in Knightsbridge. There are also concessions at Harrods and Harvey Nichols. |
| The firm, founded in 1856, also has five more shops at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, one at each of the terminals. | The firm, founded in 1856, also has five more shops at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, one at each of the terminals. |
| Burberry declined to comment on the demonstration but a spokeswoman said a training support programme for its Treorchy workers would be available from Monday morning. | Burberry declined to comment on the demonstration but a spokeswoman said a training support programme for its Treorchy workers would be available from Monday morning. |
| She added that the firm still had a manufacturing base in the UK, and had increased its workforce by 500 over the past five years to 2,000 staff currently - although it was not clear if all the 2,000 were in manufacturing. | She added that the firm still had a manufacturing base in the UK, and had increased its workforce by 500 over the past five years to 2,000 staff currently - although it was not clear if all the 2,000 were in manufacturing. |