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Protesters Unite Around the World

Wednesday 14th of February 2007 08:24:20 PM

Since Britain clothing and apparel maker Burberry announced that it would be closing one of its Polo Shirts manufacturing plants in South Whales, the company has had to defend its position to protesters and critics. The company will be closing its plant and opening a new one in China where wages and manufacturing costs are lower. The closing of the South Whales factory has left almost three hundred people without jobs.

On Wednesday, protesters from the GMB union and others in the United States and France will be protesting stores in Paris, New York, London, Strasburg, Chicago, and Las Vegas in an effort to get Burberry to change its mind and not close the factory.

“These international protests have become unrelated to the closure of a Polo Shirts factory in Wales. Our focus continues to be on re-skilling the workforce and finding alternative employment close to the site in Treorchy for staff still looking for work. We have a full outplacement facility and considerable retraining available to all staff, said a spokesperson from Burberry.

“Of the 309 staff previously employed at the factory, 180 are still looking for employment and Burberry has identified over 250 possible vacancies. Burberry is wholly committed to Britain, with almost half its global workforce of 4,650 staff based in the UK including 600 employed in manufacturing roles in Yorkshire where we make our trench coats.”

This has not stopped protesters from trying to keep the factory open, however. "It is of course to be hoped that such a distinctly British brand as Burberry should continue to be British in reality,” said Ben Elton, a writer and comedian who supports that union’s attempts to raise awareness and support for the protest and for the move Burberry is planning.

(c)Patrick NijHuis, www.sxc.hu