Factory Workers from Burberry March On

Friday 30th of March 2007 05:18:00 PM

Factory Workers from Burberry March On

Even though the Burberry factory, located in Treorchy, South Wales, officially closed two days ago, workers from the factory came to its doors yesterday to march again in protest over the factory’s closing. Burberry decided to close its Polo Shirts manufacturing plant and move it overseas to Asia in an effort to cut costs. This move caused over three-hundred people to lose their jobs. While some have found other work, many are nearing retirement age and fear their options are limited.

David Rees, 62, who has worked in the Burberry factory for forty-seven years, made these comments about the march: “It’s very, very emotional, we are really hurting here. When we started off on the march, there was a brilliant atmosphere with people singing, but the more you talk to people, the atmosphere changes. There’s a lot of anger towards Burberry, about the way they’ve done this and that they’re moving production abroad. Deep down there’s a lot of anger about it. I haven’t got another job to go to. I’ve got three years until retirement and I can’t see anybody wanting to employ me.”

Others expressed similar feelings as the group, which grew to about four hundred, marched down the main street of Treorchy. Surrounded by family, friends, political figures, and a jazz band, the former employees reminisced about their experiences and their hopes for the future.

Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews, told the crowd after they piled into the Parc and Dare Centre, "I won’t pretend this isn’t a day tinged with sadness. People in this room have worked in the factory for 40 years or more, but it’s also a day on which you can all be proud of yourselves. This campaign has achieved what no other campaign against factory closure has achieved in Britain. Not only has it been recognised around the world but, at the end of the day, it has put more money on the table for the workers."

(c)Guido Farina, www.sxc.hu