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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Gruffudd supports Burberry fight | Gruffudd supports Burberry fight |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd has revealed his support of Burberry workers in Rhondda, whose jobs are threatened by factory closure plans. | Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd has revealed his support of Burberry workers in Rhondda, whose jobs are threatened by factory closure plans. |
| Gruffudd, one of the faces of Burberry who comes from nearby Aberdare, has written to the label's chief executive urging her to reconsider the proposal. | Gruffudd, one of the faces of Burberry who comes from nearby Aberdare, has written to the label's chief executive urging her to reconsider the proposal. |
| Three hundred jobs will be axed if the Treorchy plant is closed in March 2007. | Three hundred jobs will be axed if the Treorchy plant is closed in March 2007. |
| Burberry, which plans to move production abroad, has said the factory is not "commercially viable". | Burberry, which plans to move production abroad, has said the factory is not "commercially viable". |
| The actor - star of films Fantastic Four, King Arthur, and 101 Dalmatians - became one of the two global faces of Burberry last year, along with actress Rachel Weisz. | The actor - star of films Fantastic Four, King Arthur, and 101 Dalmatians - became one of the two global faces of Burberry last year, along with actress Rachel Weisz. |
| Advertising featuring the pair has been at the centre of the company's promotion of its Burberry London fragrance. | Advertising featuring the pair has been at the centre of the company's promotion of its Burberry London fragrance. |
| I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action - I have not yet received a response Ioan Gruffudd | I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action - I have not yet received a response Ioan Gruffudd |
| Initially PR representatives said it would be "inappropriate" for the actor to comment on the closure plans. | Initially PR representatives said it would be "inappropriate" for the actor to comment on the closure plans. |
| But the Los Angeles-based star revealed he had contacted Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts in a letter to Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews. | But the Los Angeles-based star revealed he had contacted Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts in a letter to Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews. |
| He wrote: "The news of the proposed closure of the factory in Treorchy saddens me immensely. | He wrote: "The news of the proposed closure of the factory in Treorchy saddens me immensely. |
| "As you know I was raised in nearby Aberdare, and the experience of being immersed in such a vibrant and happy community has informed my life. | "As you know I was raised in nearby Aberdare, and the experience of being immersed in such a vibrant and happy community has informed my life. |
| "I can only imagine what effect the loss of so many jobs would have on this great community. | "I can only imagine what effect the loss of so many jobs would have on this great community. |
| "For this reason I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action. I have not yet received a response." | "For this reason I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action. I have not yet received a response." |
| The Treorchy workers have taken their protest to London | The Treorchy workers have taken their protest to London |
| Gruffudd wrote to Mr Andrews from Canada, where he is currently filming. | Gruffudd wrote to Mr Andrews from Canada, where he is currently filming. |
| Mr Andrews said the actor had shown himself to be a "true voice of the valleys" and his intervention was "very significant". | Mr Andrews said the actor had shown himself to be a "true voice of the valleys" and his intervention was "very significant". |
| "We have always taken the view that the closure decision is being implemented by the manufacturing division of Burberry who are simply looking at their baseline costs," said Mr Andrews. | "We have always taken the view that the closure decision is being implemented by the manufacturing division of Burberry who are simply looking at their baseline costs," said Mr Andrews. |
| "What we're concerned about are the impacts on the Burberry brand and the guardians of that brand are the plc board. | "What we're concerned about are the impacts on the Burberry brand and the guardians of that brand are the plc board. |
| "So for someone who is so identified with Burberry's brand of Britishness to take this step of writing to the chief executive of Burberry I think is very significant." | |
| Victoria Beckham | |
| Earlier this month, more than 100 workers from the factory protested outside the label's top London stores. | Earlier this month, more than 100 workers from the factory protested outside the label's top London stores. |
| They handed out leaflets outside the Burberry's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe the jobs. | They handed out leaflets outside the Burberry's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe the jobs. |
| Workers have warned they also intend to take their campaign to other celebrities associated with Burberry, like Weisz and Victoria Beckham. | Workers have warned they also intend to take their campaign to other celebrities associated with Burberry, like Weisz and Victoria Beckham. |
| Clarence House has confirmed that Prince Charles has been kept informed of the Burberry campaign, but said the prince has not written a letter or intervened in any way. |