Burberry dispute turns bitter

The ongoing Burberry dispute became more bitter today, as the GMB slammed claims by a company source that its campaign against the closure of the Treorchy factory was 'unrepresentative and politically motivated'.

According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, a Burberry source - who asked not to be named - claimed the GMB and local were exploiting a minority of the workforce for their own political ends.

The insider said: 'The fact is that most of the workforce at the company are not up in arms about the closure. They are happy with the deal being offered them. This dispute is being whipped up by MPs and Welsh Assembly members who have an eye on the elections in May. They are making capital out of the situation and destroying a fine brand at the same time.'

However, a union spokesman emphatically rejected the claims and called the redundancy offer 'pathetic'. GMB organiser Mervyn Burnett said: 'At the last meeting of 200 workers not one person voiced the opinion that they were happy with the package.'

The GMB also rejected claims that MP Bryant and AM Andrews were using the campaign for political gain, and said they were 'elected representatives' who were 'voicing the concerns and anxieties of constituents'.

At the weekend, Burberry unveiled plans to donate the Treorchy factory site to the local community, but the GMB slammed the move as a 'hollow PR stunt'.

Burnett said: 'What good is an empty factory? The community does not want an empty factory it wants people in work. Burberry knows full well that it would cost£250,000 to upgrade the electrics in the factory.'

The GMB held demonstrations outside Burberry stores in London over the weekend and will launch simultaneous international campaigns on Valentine's Day outside stores in Las Vegas, Paris, New York and San Francisco.

The union also plans to target the Burberry-sponsored British awards ceremony Bafta in London a week on Sunday.