The Burberry Story - 7.30pm
Burberry Workers' Concert - 9pm
BBC 2W - Easter Monday 9 April
The factory in the heart of Treorchy has been producing clothes since 1939 but was only taken over by Burberry in 1989.
News of the closure broke in September 2006 just weeks after the company reported a 19% sales increase, with revenues up to £135m.
Burberry said the decision followed a year-long review and that production of its polo shirts would be moved abroad in order to reduce costs.
Factory closures in south Wales and relocations by firms citing market forces are hardly unknown, but few others have attracted global protests, a benefit concert, and vociferous support for the workers from celebrities.
Sir Tom Jones, Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson are among those who've voiced their concerns, along with Ioan Gruffudd, significant for his role as one of the public faces of Burberry, seen promoting the brand on posters and adverts all over the world.
So why has Burberry struck such a chord?
Maybe it's because, in the company's words, Burberry is "a luxury brand with a distinctive British sensibility, and strong international recognition".
The firm's distinctive check design has become ubiquitous on the nation's high streets in recent years, amid claims that it's been adopted as the chavs' brand of choice.
Or is it simply the last straw for a region of south Wales that has seen a steady decline of its manufacturing industry over the last three decades?
Share your views and see what others think
your comments
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Becky, South Wales
It's a shame that the Burberry check was adopted by chav culture. I find it quite funny seeing the chav boys in my school with Burberry check hats next to my English teacher's posh Burberry coat. Quite a contradiction!As for the fact it's moved away from Treorchy, well, as with most products that move to China, the quality isn't as good. After the closure of coal mines, steel works etc and now another factory, where are the new jobs being made in wales? How about production moves from China to Wales once in a while? Unlikely I know, but wasn't it unlikely 10 years ago that a designer make like Burberry would be adopted by chavs?
Krishna Padiyar, Pittsburgh, US
I will admit that "greed is good", but not at the expense of reputation and integrity. I am appalled at the quality that comes out of China for any product, and the fact that this distinctly British brand known for quality will be sending production to a place known for making things on the cheap will only make me look more closely at labels at Burberry. Anything made in China does not get bought. End of story.
Fola Akins from Hull
Every firm in business hopes to make continous profit and minimise cost. I would not blame Burberry, when there is availability of cheaper labour which will result in cheaper cost of production and avenue to achieve cheaper business integration in Asia. I see no reason why it should not relocate.
Ross, Hatfield
I am sorry - Burberry is a business, it needs to stay competitive and make a profit to keep all the other employees employed. Burberry are just doing what other companies have done before them and reducing manufacturing costs - it's just that Burberry have done it later than most. Burberry still have factories in other parts of the UK - just be lucky they have not moved them yet. Basically it's business, like in other countries people have to move to get a job, which means we can do the same, move with the times.
Paul Wilson from London
The direct cost to Burberry of producing a shirt in China may be £4 instead of £11 in Wales but the environmental cost of shipping that shirt half way around the World will be much more. Make the polluters pay! If the EU imposed a surcharge equivalent to the environmental cost, perhaps more stuff would be made in Wales.
Joe P from Jersey
Burberry along with a lot of other brands have moved overseas. I think the best way to treat these companies is simply not to buy their products anymore.
Amanda Eddy, Bracknell, Berkshire
The greed of companies to ignore the welfare of the loyal staff members who have served them so well is truly in keeping with the greed of directors who only care about their bonus payments each year.
Phill from Cambridge
This is another example of the unacceptable face of capitalism. Shame on a so-called Labour govt to stand by and do nothing, citing market forces as the reason for the closure when we all know it's greed pure and simple.Shame on Burberry - boycott them now.
Paul F from London
Although I sympathise with the Burberry workers it is interesting to see how they are suddenly so British. I'm sure up until this point they would have claimed to be Welsh and nothing else. 'Keep Burberry Welsh' doesn't have the same ring to it does it?
John Davies, Rhondda
Nothing changes in the Rhondda and other similar so-called 'working-class' areas thoughout the UK. Low-paid workers put in long, often family unfriendly, hours in order to bring home a decent wage. Bosses ignore this, only seeing the potential for ever greater profits and the demands of shareholders. You have to have money to make money! I suppose we can however, look forward to the prospect that in twenty years time, our children have jobs - working in call centres in Cardiff selling insurance to the population of Shanghai and Delhi etc.
Gwen O'Neill, Tewantin, Queensland, Australia
In the year 1938 I shared a flat with a girl who was machinist at a factory that made the officers' military coats for the forces. The lining for those coats were of dark blue silk shot. The staff were allowed to buy remnants of the lining silk. My flatmate made some beautiful cushion covers - they were a pleasure to see. Burberry coats were the finest coat that has ever been made. My sympathy goes out to those people who will be unemployed.
Kathy Pain, Brisbane, Australia
This is not unique to Wales! The usual excuse is that it's cheaper to make overseas & the consumer will enjoy lower costs for products. Still, citizens (everywhere) have to have a job to enable them to buy goods. They talk about 're-training' for the sacked staff but sometimes these industries/factories are the sacked workers' whole life. They never think or recognize the mental damage that goes along with redundancy and an uncertain future.
There have been a lot of instances in Australia where all the companies think about is their 'shareholders' and bonuses for their CEOs. That's all it's about. Forget about the workers' lives entertwined with the company/factory - that's the worker's payment for hard work and loyalty. The closure in Wales re this article/subject has happened here in Australia on numerous occasions in all sorts of industries.
Bryn Hillier from Canada
Burberry will probally join a long list of designers, and get inferior products made by underage and underpaid workers in China, and the Indian continent.
Bill Frampton from Dinas Powis
Exploitation and greed, two reasons. The same reasons for coal iron and steel closing. Old fashioned business ideas in the nationalised industries were a prime helper in the losses but the businesses are still in being and profitable although in other hands. Unfortunately profit before all else matters in today's environment and the same fat cats are still able to exploit the toilers and spinners who swell their coffers.
Susan Carlick, Treharris
As an ex works GMB Branch Secretary for Rizla UK Ltd, and a Labour Party member, from my experience of being made redundant there were 130 highly skilled and very well paid jobs lost. I do really sympathise with the Burberry workers. What I find strange is that no one was prepared to campaign for our jobs as much as they have done for the Burberry workers. It was only the determined effort of the GMB Union, my members, stewards and myself that secured us with a decent redundancy package. We still would have prefered our jobs. If we had had the same support from all our MPs and AMs as the Burberry workers have had, our jobs may have been secured.
I wish all the Buberry workers all the very best for their campaign and just hope that they can save their jobs, as there are far too many jobs gone in the valley.
My answer to question 2 is:
I think why it has become a major cause is, it is vitally important to keep home-grown jobs, irrespective of whether they are highly skilled or not. I personally think that the people who let me down are now jumping on the bandwagon.
Colin Coombes from Lancing West Sussex.
It has become a major cause because the majority of the workers have come out fighting for their jobs and the future of their families, instead of just holding out their hands for a payout. They have tried to show the world that big firms cannot just steamroller over the Welsh people any more.Enough is enough. Good Luck to you all. A Rhondda Welshman always at heart.
Lynfa
I was employed by Burberrys in the mid sixties. It was then called Polkoffs. It was a hub of activity with employees coming from all over the Rhondda. So much unemployment has taken place in the Valley that people who would like to stay there are unable to because of the lack of jobs. I am appauled with the issue of Burberrys, and delighted with the reponse of celebrities in trying to save this factory. May I add a big thank you to all the hard work that has been put into saving Burberrys by the employees.
David Morgan from Newport
This is yet again more evidence of the greed of larger companies and the direct consequence of that hateful word "Globalisation". My partner and I are at present in Malta - arranging the importation of local hand-made crafts into the UK - many of which have disappeared from Wales for the same reasons - along with a lack on the part of many to reward excellence and support local industry. May the workers at Burberry rise like the Pheonix from the ashes soon!
Steve, Newport
Maybe it's because, in the real world, Burberry is "supposedly a luxury brand with a distinctive British sensibility", when in reality it has a strong football terrace recognition and is generally recognised as the uniform of the football hooligan. Boycott Burberry now.
Mike Tucker from Pontypool
Pulling out of Wales to cut costs? Are we really gullible enough to believe that? The company admits to a 19% sales increase over £1 million sales revenue; God, a lot of companies can only dream of that. The company ought to remember the workers who for the last 20 odd years built it up to that; not cut jobs. Pity the countries they intend to go cannot see it is exploitation of the masses to fill fat cat pockets.
Steve, Newport
A list of companies that have moved production overseas resulting in job losses should be available on the internet. This would then allow consumers to choose to either buy from these companies or to shop with companies still producing in the UK. Then see how a company's profits are affected.
Joanne Davies, currently Italy
I think it's immoral for a business to announce profits of £135m and then claim it is moving abroad in order to cut costs. It's just plain greed by people who do not live in the real world and selfishly do not care what will happen to the people who work there and the knock on effect this will have on the wider community!
Alun Davies
It is sad when jobs are lost - Wales was sorry to lose jobs in coal, iron and steel but there were clear economic reasons for that and there are even more obvious reasons why Burberry is moving overseas. There is not a company in the world who would continue to do business in Wales when it can do the same abroad for half the price.
Jeff, Cardiff
More jobs that are again going in Wales. No wonder people are moving away from Wales to look for work! We shouldn't have to!!!!!!
What's your view of the Burberry closure?
Why do you think it has become such a major cause?
Share your views on the closure of the factory with the loss of 300 jobs - why has it struck such a chord?
