Burberry plant closure protests go global

Demonstrations against the planned closure of a UK factory by designer clothes firm Burberry are to be held in cities across Europe and the United States tomorrow.

The GMB union has organised the protests as part of a campaign to save the plant in Treorchy, South Wales, which is due to shut at the end of March with the loss of 300 jobs.

The demonstrations will be held in London, Paris, Strasbourg, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Activists will hand customers cards bearing the message “Stop Burberry Breaking Our Hearts”, as the protests are being held on Valentine’s Day.

Mervyn Burnett, of the GMB, said the campaign was taking on a global dimension because of Burberry’s plans to transfer work from South Wales to China.

“GMB members and supporters will explain direct to shoppers outside the Burberry stores in these cities our demand that the company reverse the closure of the South Wales factory.”

The union said Burberry had refused to reveal how much workers in China will be paid for the work being transferred there from the UK.