An Emotional Day

Today the Burberry factory in Treorchy closed for the last time. We didn't win the battle to keep the factory open, but we did win more money for the workers and a trust fund for the Rhondda for the next ten years. And in the background there is the possibility of a new venture with Burberry, Harrod's, and designer 's sample production, which could create some new jobs.

It was a sad day, but this is the Rhondda, and so it was a proud day too. The workers can be proud of what they achieved on their campaign. And the Rhondda is proud of the Burberry workers. Today was an assertion of community values, values that still have a real meaning in the Rhondda.

This was an unprecedented camapign. Its story has been told internationally. No other campaign against a factory closure has achieved what this campaign has achieved. We will record more of today's events on this weblog, including pictures and footage.

Meanwhile, here are some of the news stories that have appeared. There will be more tomorrow.

From www.icwales.co.uk(Western Mail, South Wales Echo and PA) : this and this and this and this and this and this.

From BBC Wales: this and this and this .

More in due course.

Meanwhile, thank you to all our supporters across the world. And to our celebrity supporters. And to those in the media who helped spark off the campaign - you know who you are.

Comments

[Colin]

People really should reconsider buying Burberry from now on, somehow I think the thick, brand snobbery on british people will stop them doing this

[barbara]

for the life of me....i cannot understand why citizens of the UK will continue to purchase burberry's products at the expense of their own country's economy in favor of communist China that takes advantage of their protected trade and underpaid workers.

[barbara]

for the life of me....i cannot understand why citizens of the UK will continue to purchase burberry's products at the expense of their own country's economy in favor of communist China that takes advantage of their protected trade and underpaid workers.

[custom essays]

My brain is wired to think of how something impacts the whole of humanity, and do not consider myself selfish.