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Meeting over Burberry's closure Meeting over Burberry's closure
(20 minutes later)
A mass meeting is to be held at the Burberry factory in south Wales where workers will discuss the closure of the plant with union leaders.A mass meeting is to be held at the Burberry factory in south Wales where workers will discuss the closure of the plant with union leaders.
The company has announced that the plant in Treorchy, Rhondda, is to close in December with the loss of 300 jobs.The company has announced that the plant in Treorchy, Rhondda, is to close in December with the loss of 300 jobs.
The news prompted a furious response from politicians and union leaders.The news prompted a furious response from politicians and union leaders.
Burberry is to talk to the assembly government but it appears unlikely it will halt plans to shift production to Asia or South America.Burberry is to talk to the assembly government but it appears unlikely it will halt plans to shift production to Asia or South America.
Burberry said the plant was not "commercially viable", but the company would not abandon the UK.Burberry said the plant was not "commercially viable", but the company would not abandon the UK.
The GMB union said it is appalled by the decision, claiming Wales has now lost 46,000 manufacturing jobs since 1994.The GMB union said it is appalled by the decision, claiming Wales has now lost 46,000 manufacturing jobs since 1994.
This is a bitter economic blow to the Rhondda Fawr and the county as a whole. Councillor Robert BevanThis is a bitter economic blow to the Rhondda Fawr and the county as a whole. Councillor Robert Bevan
Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said he would be talking to Burberry's chief executive on Thursday to make the case for the firm retaining its Rhonnda operation.
He said the closure was "a bolt from the blue" with no indication that they were planning an announcement.
"We certainly want to find out why they are doing this to see if there's anything we can do as a government to change their minds," Mr Davies said.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said he felt angered and betrayed by the news that the plant making polo shirts was to close.Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said he felt angered and betrayed by the news that the plant making polo shirts was to close.
He said senior managers had guaranteed to consult him before they considered closure and broke their promise.He said senior managers had guaranteed to consult him before they considered closure and broke their promise.
Mr Bryant told BBC Wales he had met senior management two years ago, and they had guaranteed then they were not thinking about closing the plant.Mr Bryant told BBC Wales he had met senior management two years ago, and they had guaranteed then they were not thinking about closing the plant.
"If they were even going to be thinking about going down that line, they [said they] would get in touch with me first, so that if there was a package we could put in from the Welsh assembly to help them stay here that would be possible, and they've not stood by that promise," he said."If they were even going to be thinking about going down that line, they [said they] would get in touch with me first, so that if there was a package we could put in from the Welsh assembly to help them stay here that would be possible, and they've not stood by that promise," he said.
However, Mr Bryant said he thought there was still a chance the factory could be saved, and he and Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews met the managing director on Wednesday to discuss the situation.However, Mr Bryant said he thought there was still a chance the factory could be saved, and he and Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews met the managing director on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
'Bitter blow''Bitter blow'
Talks will be held with unions over plans to shut the site in early 2007.Talks will be held with unions over plans to shut the site in early 2007.
The company said the closure plan follows a year-long review of its supply chain and manufacturing process, leaving managers with "no obvious alternative other than to propose the closure of the factory".The company said the closure plan follows a year-long review of its supply chain and manufacturing process, leaving managers with "no obvious alternative other than to propose the closure of the factory".
Production will be go overseas, where costs are lower. The firm has not said specifically where, but it will be either Asia or South America.Production will be go overseas, where costs are lower. The firm has not said specifically where, but it will be either Asia or South America.
It stressed the proposed closure was a one-off and the company would not abandon the UK with no cuts planned at other sites.It stressed the proposed closure was a one-off and the company would not abandon the UK with no cuts planned at other sites.
Local councillor Robert Bevan said: "This is a bitter economic blow to the Rhondda Fawr and the county as a whole.Local councillor Robert Bevan said: "This is a bitter economic blow to the Rhondda Fawr and the county as a whole.
"Burberry provided well-paid, quality employment and this is a sad loss to the economic infrastructure of the Rhondda.""Burberry provided well-paid, quality employment and this is a sad loss to the economic infrastructure of the Rhondda."
Burberry has said it will help employees in Treorchy find alternative jobs inside or outside the company.Burberry has said it will help employees in Treorchy find alternative jobs inside or outside the company.
The factory at Treorchy has been producing clothes since 1939 but it was only taken over by Burberry in 1989.The factory at Treorchy has been producing clothes since 1939 but it was only taken over by Burberry in 1989.