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This is Annie at her machine. Or rather is was Annie at her machine. But now the machine has gone. Annie's job has tkane flight. Annie used to work as a machinist in a clothing factory, but now she is now unemployed. |
ANNIE’S JOB TAKES FLIGHT |
The factory where Annie worked belonged to Dewhirst, the UK clothing manufacturer. It has just closed two of its factories – Annie’s in Cheshire and another in Durham – with a loss of 1000 jobs. These factories made blouses, jackets, trousers and shirts, mainlyfor Marks and Spencer.
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In fact 90% of what Dewhirst makes is for M & S. And that’s the problem. Over the last two years, M & S has lost customers, and suffered a big fall in profits. So Dewhirst’s profits have slumped too. |
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Now Dewhirst says it must cut costs to survive. It will still produce for M & S – but overseas. It is moving production to countries like Morocco, Indonesia and Malaysia, where costs are lower. |
NOT ANNIE’S FAULT
A spokesman for Dewhirst said : ‘These closures are no reflection on our UK employees. Their work has always been first class’. High praise, but it probably won’t make Annie feel any better. |
UNDER JOBS UNDER THREAT TOO
M & S sent out shock waves last year when it said it planned to buy more from overseas. For years it has tried to ‘BUY BRITISH’, with 70% or more of its clothing |
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made in the UK. Now that figure will fall to 30% in an attempt to cut costs. M & S then plans to lower its prices to lure customers back to its stores.
The UK clothing industry depended heavily on M & S. Annie’s job is not the first to go, and it won’t be the last. |
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