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| Rock acts play for Burberry staff | Rock acts play for Burberry staff |
| (1 day later) | |
| Some of Wales' top rock acts performed for 300 Rhondda Burberry workers who lose their jobs next week. | |
| The Automatic, Gruff Rhys and The Alarm headlined a concert at the Ystrad Rhondda Leisure Centre on Saturday. | |
| Mike Peters from The Alarm said their taking part in the fundraising gig was a political statement. | Mike Peters from The Alarm said their taking part in the fundraising gig was a political statement. |
| Peters said it sent "a message out to other businesses" who are thinking of doing the same as Burberry is doing and "maybe they'll think again". | Peters said it sent "a message out to other businesses" who are thinking of doing the same as Burberry is doing and "maybe they'll think again". |
| The concert was organised by The Pop Factory media complex in nearby Porth as part of the campaign to save the Treorchy factory. | |
| We just hope today's concert will bring a smile back on the workers' faces Organiser Dave Driscoll | We just hope today's concert will bring a smile back on the workers' faces Organiser Dave Driscoll |
| Proceeds will go to a trust to support affected workers and their families. | Proceeds will go to a trust to support affected workers and their families. |
| Dave Driscoll, one of the organisers, said: "Doing a concert like this is fun ( but) it doesn't take away the serious issue that they are closing the factory. | Dave Driscoll, one of the organisers, said: "Doing a concert like this is fun ( but) it doesn't take away the serious issue that they are closing the factory. |
| "We just hope the concert will bring a smile back on the workers' faces." | |
| Last September Burberry announced a review had found that the Rhondda plant, which makes polo shirts, was not "commercially viable". | Last September Burberry announced a review had found that the Rhondda plant, which makes polo shirts, was not "commercially viable". |
| Production is being transferred overseas and shared between sites in Spain, Poland, Portugal and China. | Production is being transferred overseas and shared between sites in Spain, Poland, Portugal and China. |
| A high-profile campaign to keep the jobs in south Wales has included international protests and drawn support from a number of celebrities. | A high-profile campaign to keep the jobs in south Wales has included international protests and drawn support from a number of celebrities. |
| The Automatic are one of the bands who performed | |
| They included singer Sir Tom Jones, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, actors Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Ifans, Michael Sheen and Emma Thompson and singer-turned-TV presenter Charlotte Church. | They included singer Sir Tom Jones, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, actors Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Ifans, Michael Sheen and Emma Thompson and singer-turned-TV presenter Charlotte Church. |
| In January, Burberry announced its revenue had increased by 22% and total sales rose to £206m during the last three months of 2006. | In January, Burberry announced its revenue had increased by 22% and total sales rose to £206m during the last three months of 2006. |
| The company also said it would give the Treorchy plant to the community, effectively guaranteeing the plant's value at £1m by underwriting its assets. | The company also said it would give the Treorchy plant to the community, effectively guaranteeing the plant's value at £1m by underwriting its assets. |
| However, it has since revised its offer, and pledged to give the community £150,000 a year for the next ten years. Plans for its distribution are still under discussion. | However, it has since revised its offer, and pledged to give the community £150,000 a year for the next ten years. Plans for its distribution are still under discussion. |
| The company has stressed it does not intend to abandon the UK, and it offered Welsh staff jobs in Yorkshire. | The company has stressed it does not intend to abandon the UK, and it offered Welsh staff jobs in Yorkshire. |
| Dave Driscoll said: "Burberry have come back and made a commitment to the area with a large sum of money, they've increased the redundancy payments. | |
| "In reality the money we have raised isn't going to keep the factory open but it is all going to go towards the workers' fund to do as they wish." |