The Burberry factory in the Rhondda closed five years ago today, the 31st March 2007, despite a fantastic campaign led by the GMB.
Here is the footage of the workers leaving the factory behind the GMB banner:
The workers' proud final march was applauded through the streets of Treorchy: We didn't win the campaign to keep the factory open, but a mass campaign supported by celebrities like Ioan Gruffydd, Rhys Ifans, Bryn Terfel, Max Boyce, Boyd Clack, Tom Jones, Sir Alex Ferguson, The Automatic, The Alarm, Gruff Rhys, Michael Sheen, Charlotte Church, Rachel Tresize, Steve Jones, Ben Elton, Emma Thompson, Irvine Welsh, the late Stuart Cable, and many others won an extension of the factory for a few months, additional redundancy pay and a trust fund for the Rhondda. Shop Stewards from the factory like Joan Young
and Gaynor Richards have been trustees.
Both individuals and local organisations have benefitted.
Thinking Allowed on Radio 4 has Jean Jenkins of Cardiff Business School talking about the consequences of the closure of the Burberry factory in next week's edition (April 4 at 4pm). Today the BBC has this.
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