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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Meeting over Burberry's closure | Meeting over Burberry's closure |
| (30 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 Bevan | This 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 managing director 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. | 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. | "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. |