On 6 September 2006 Burberry announced the closure of its Treorchy factory. Immediately the GMB union announced a campaign to save the factory, backed by Welsh Assembly Member Leighton Andrews and local MP Chris Bryant.
Over the next six months one of the most high-profile campaigns against factory closures ever seen in Wales took place, with protests from international celebrities and pickets of Burberry stores around the world.
Andrews secured the support of Burberry 'face' and Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd, the first of many celebrities to come on board.
He was described by GMB senior organiser Mervyn Burnett at the rally on the last day of the factory 'as the Assembly member who has been at the forefront of this campaign.'
The factory closed in March 2007, with the loss of 300 jobs. Though the factory closed, the campaign secured an extended life for its operation, better redundancy terms for the Burberry workers, and a trust fund for the Rhondda worth £150,000 per year over the next ten years.
In her review of the year 2007, the Rhondda-born journalist Carolyn Hitt said
Labour AM Leighton Andrews and MP Chris Bryant fought a passionate campaign to save 300 jobs at the Burberry clothing factory in their Rhondda constituency. But even the added celebrity glitter of Dame Judi Dench, Ioan Gruffudd and Emma Thompson couldn’t persuade the grasping label to stay. The campaign did, however, ensure a better redundancy deal and long-term community fund for the workforce.
The BBC recognised Leighton Andrews and Chris Bryant for their work in the campaign naming them as joint campaigners of the year in the 2007 BBC Wales political awards.
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