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Actor to support Burberry fight Gruffudd supports Burberry fight
(about 16 hours later)
The campaign to save 300 jobs at the Burberry factory in the Rhondda has attracted the support of Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd. Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd has revealed his support of Burberry workers in Rhondda, whose jobs are threatened by factory closure plans.
Local AM Leighton Andrews said the workers would be "grateful" for the message from the Aberdare-born star and a global face of Burberry. Gruffudd, of the faces of Burberry who comes from nearby Aberdare, has written to the label's chief executive urging her to reconsider the proposal.
The company announced in September that it wanted to close the Treorchy factory next March and move work to China. Three hundred jobs will be axed if the Treorchy plant is closed in March 2007.
Burberry has said keeping the plant open is not "commercially viable". Burberry, which plans to move production abroad, has said the factory is not "commercially viable".
The actor - star of films Fantastic Four, King Arthur, and 101 Dalmatians - became one of the two global faces of Burberry last year, along with actress Rachel Weisz.The actor - star of films Fantastic Four, King Arthur, and 101 Dalmatians - became one of the two global faces of Burberry last year, along with actress Rachel Weisz.
Advertising featuring the pair has been at the centre of the company's promotion of its Burberry London fragrance.Advertising featuring the pair has been at the centre of the company's promotion of its Burberry London fragrance.
Rhondda AM Mr Andrews said he would publish a letter from Los Angeles-based Gruffudd, revealing his support for the workers, on Monday. I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action - I have not yet received a response Ioan Gruffudd
Los Angeles-based Gruffudd revealed he had contacted Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts in a letter to Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews.
He wrote: "The news of the proposed closure of the factory in Treorchy saddens me immensely.
"As you know I was raised in nearby Aberdare, and the experience of being immersed in such a vibrant and happy community has informed my life.
"I can only imagine what effect the loss of so many jobs would have on this great community.
"For this reason I have sent a letter to the chief executive of Burberry urging her to choose an alternative course of action. I have not yet received a response."
The Treorchy workers have taken their protest to LondonThe Treorchy workers have taken their protest to London
Gruffudd wrote to Mr Andrews from Canada, where he is currently filming.
Mr Andrews said the actor had shown himself to be a "true voice of the valleys".
He added: "Burberry workers will be delighted at Ioan's intervention, and grateful to him.He added: "Burberry workers will be delighted at Ioan's intervention, and grateful to him.
"Burberry has been a very successful luxury British brand. It has been performing well and has successfully moved upmarket."Burberry has been a very successful luxury British brand. It has been performing well and has successfully moved upmarket.
"But it has been able to do that because the Burberry brand communicates British glamour and British craftsmanship. If they take away the British craftsmanship, they risk losing the glamour too.""But it has been able to do that because the Burberry brand communicates British glamour and British craftsmanship. If they take away the British craftsmanship, they risk losing the glamour too."
Earlier this month, more than 100 workers from the south Wales clothing factory took their closure plans protest to the label's top London stores. Earlier this month, more than 100 workers from the factory protested outside the label's top London stores.
They handed out leaflets outside the Burberry's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe the jobs.They handed out leaflets outside the Burberry's Regent and Bond Street outlets to "put a human face" on the proposals to axe the jobs.
Workers have warned they also intend to take their campaign to other celebrities associated with Burberry, like Weisz and Victoria Beckham.Workers have warned they also intend to take their campaign to other celebrities associated with Burberry, like Weisz and Victoria Beckham.