Workers push Apple to end iPhone supplier's exploitation

[AppleInsider]

Seizing a chance to grab the spotlight, workers at one of the key suppliers for iPhone touchscreens have taken their cause directly to Apple itself in hopes of halting what they see as abusive and illegal working conditions.

Taiwan's National Federation of Independent Trade Unions (NFITU) and other area labor groups protested in front of Apple's Taipei offices on Thursday to have the American company change Wintek's mind on alleged but potentially controversial labor practices.

According to the Global Post, workers at the demonstration held MacBook Pros showing the word "responsibility" and detailed a litany of claimed abuses by Wintek. The company reportedly fired 600 workers in December without giving advance notice while simultaneously cutting the pay of remaining workers and forcing them to work unpaid overtime to fulfill "rush" orders -- though whether any of these were for Apple isn't stated.

Moreover, the company's operations in mainland China are characterized as more neglectful still. In Dongguan, Wintek is accused both of impromptu pay cuts like those at its Taiwanese headquarters as well as of of maintaining poor working conditions and retaliating against those who complain. It illegally dismissed 19 employees after they protested circumstances just a month ago, the unions claim. Many at the Taipei protest wore masks to prevent being identified and fired as punishment.

NFITU and the supporting groups said they took to protesting in front of Apple's offices after months of failed attempts to earn concessions from Wintek directly.

Defending itself, Wintek tried to put the burden on Apple by insisting that it has not only obeyed regional labor laws but that it has been following the code of conduct given to it as a supplier. On a practical level, spokeswoman Susie Lee said the firm had no choice but to cut pay and lay off workers in the midst of a worldwide economic slump. Workers who were let go were allegedly given compensation packages, and those complaining are only trying to "harm Wintek's reputation," Lee said. They may also be threatened with legal action.



Former workers, some of whom were at the protest, have already turned this argument on its head and have argued that Wintek ought to rehire now that the economy, and the company, have started recovering from the financial crash.

The complaint about Wintek isn't the first Apple has faced in China, where companies are regularly accused of overworking their staff or otherwise treating most factory employees poorly. One of Apple's other key suppliers, Foxconn, was criticized for sub-par worker dormitories, requiring excessive overtime and subjecting employees to a confusing pay structure as well as harsh discipline. Under pressure from the media, Apple eventually audited Foxconn and mandated improved standards, some of which were supposedly underway before the audits began.

Apple appears to be reacting in similar fashion to the newest charges. Although the iPhone maker said it doesn't comment on its internal supplier relationships, spokeswoman Jill Tan made clear that Apple regularly audits all of its suppliers and that it would force any contractor to take "corrective actions" if they were found breaching Apple's code of conduct.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[teckstud]

To me this is so more more important to rectify than creating an environmentally friendly Al Gore Mac. Saving the environment on the back of slave labor is disgusting.

[BHoughton]

Don't get me wrong, this sounds like a horrible situation, but there is always two sides to any story.

Were these people being held hostage when working for "free" during overtime? Was there a gun to their head?

I'm sure they'd like you to believe that.

If it was me and I just witnessed a large percentage of coworkers laid off, yet I was still employed by the same company, I would work extra hard out of gratitude for even having a job still. They can't be hurting that bad financially if they all (or most) were holding MBP's.

[harleighquinn]

Taiwan is a surprise, but it's no secret that china has the worst labor and rights abuse reputation, right up there with Saudi Arabia.

I have always had issue with the fact we created numerous incentives for businesses to take their manufacturing overseas, thus dumbing down our own populous, as we had no incentive to fill those positions, and also killing our GNP due to having no manufacturing within our own borders.

And let's not forget the taxes are paid to the host countries, therefore we lose out on that revenue as well.......

But we, as consumers are also at fault, since we voraciously consume these products, which in turn makes them feel justified in these practices in order to sate our appetites and their own slave labour subsidized pockets.

[Quadra 610]

Give them all free iPods. Problem solved.*





















*In all seriousness, I'm quite sure Apple will do something about this, not jut for PR's sake but in terms of ethics and the general push to improve working conditions. Although the economy being what it is, Apple is only partially responsible here.

[JSmith]

> Were these people being held hostage when working for "free"
> during overtime? Was there a gun to their head?

Would you consider being under the threat of being fired as being held hostage? No one would dare say "no" because they know their job is at risk if they do so. China/Taiwan and such places don't have the nice friendly labour rules of North America/Europe. There are reasons why labour is cheap there and this is one of them.

[harleighquinn]

Originally Posted by jsmith

> were these people being held hostage when working for "free"
> during overtime? Was there a gun to their head?

Would you consider being under the threat of being fired as being held hostage? No one would dare say "no" because they know their job is at risk if they do so. China/taiwan and such places don't have the nice friendly labour rules of north america/europe. There are reasons why labour is cheap there and this is one of them.

exactly

[nagromme]

Originally Posted by teckstud

To me this is so more more important to rectify than creating an environmentally friendly Al Gore Mac. Saving the environment on the back of slave labor is disgusting.

How are those two important causes mutually exclusive?

Originally Posted by BHoughton

Were these people being held hostage when working for "free" during overtime? Was there a gun to their head?

Starvation for your family, loss of your home, or being forced into even more illegal and life-threatening work are possible consequences of being fired--for refusing to work without pay, or for complaining, or whatever.

There are many kinds of gun. And there are many unfair practices other than outright murder. If the law was broken, something should change.

Never assume the corporation is the one in the right--not in the U.S., and not in China either. An investigation/audit is called for. Don't worry that the poor defenseless Chinese companies will suffer for crimes they did not commit, if that's the outcome of the investigation.

[orion123]

Originally Posted by BHoughton

If it was me and I just witnessed a large percentage of coworkers laid off, yet I was still employed by the same company, I would work extra hard out of gratitude for even having a job still.

Wow, that's disturbing. THANK YOU MASTER FOR YOUR GRACIOUSNESS

You should move there if that's your ideal of an employer

[city]

Originally Posted by BHoughton

Don't get me wrong, this sounds like a horrible situation, but there is always two sides to any story.

Were these people being held hostage when working for "free" during overtime? Was there a gun to their head?

I'm sure they'd like you to believe that.

If it was me and I just witnessed a large percentage of coworkers laid off, yet I was still employed by the same company, I would work extra hard out of gratitude for even having a job still. They can't be hurting that bad financially if they all (or most) were holding MBP's.

So the boss might say we are going to fire 10% more. No one can afford to get fired. They literally need the job to survive and maybe to help relatives. They can't find other work. They keep quiet, work faster, stay later and skip lunch breaks because they don't want to be part of the 10%. It doesn't seem fair to me when someone has so much at stake. This is happening in the United States with public and private jobs, both large and small businesses where people have rights and can sue. They are brave to protest in Taiwan.

[mstone]

I'm really sick of having everything made in China. Apple is a US company. I think their products should be made in the US. Let China develop their own brands and design their own products, like Japan does. China's contract industries have a really bad reputation for cheating and underhanded business practices. And I certainly don't trust their government.

I have several Chinese friends here in the US and many of them say the same thing about China.

But the blame isn't all theirs. The greed of many US corporations has forced everyone to send manufacturing jobs to China in order to stay competitive. It is a downward spiral that will be difficult to reverse.

[801]

Look at all the stuff you have purchased in the last several years. It's all made like that. Look at all the crap you have accumulated, and think on the place and way it was made "in china". This case just points out the very best of the manufacturing culture done overseas.

Ever been to a Chinese factory? I have. Ever been to a Mexican Maquiladora? Plenty.

The crap you enjoy is made in someone else's misery.
Go see.

[BHoughton]

Originally Posted by orion123

Wow, that's disturbing. THANK YOU MASTER FOR YOUR GRACIOUSNESS

You should move there if that's your ideal of an employer

I didn't say that is my "ideal" employer. I'm pointing out that they can quit. Yes, there will be repercussions to that decision, but they still have a choice. I'm sorry that the world isn't all soft and fuzzy like you would like it to be, but this is reality. I'm not saying that it's right. I'm just saying that they can change their surroundings.

I like that you completely ignored the rest of my comment as well regarding them having MBP's at their protest. They must live in shacks with dirt floors and charge their MBP's through black magic.

That was the point.

[fraklinc]

So what really are they looking for? Do they want Apple to take the contract away from Wintek and leave them all Jobless, i mean what can Apple do. It's a sad story and i hope i never have to face something like it, but if you don't like your work place, the best thing is to look some place else.

[brucep]

Originally Posted by 801

Look at all the stuff you have purchased in the last several years. It's all made like that. Look at all the crap you have accumulated, and think on the place and way it was made "in china". This case just points out the very best of the manufacturing culture done overseas.

Ever been to a Chinese factory? I have. Ever been to a Mexican Maquiladora? Plenty.

The crap you enjoy is made in someone else's misery.
Go see.

it's not so simple as you say
yet it is simple
is it not ?
china first killed whole Usa industries by subsidizing there plants
while we slept or even helped them
it's not just labor costs
its worker rights we have in the Usa that the chinese don't and never will have
These poor workers stole our jobs .

It's not right to abuse them .. But how can they compete without cheating ??

we should make the apple stuff here in the Usa

[lightstriker]

Originally Posted by mstone

I'm really sick of having everything made in China. Apple is a US company. I think their products should be made in the US. Let China develop their own brands and design their own products, like Japan does.
.

Yeah,when china does what Japand did, Lee Iaccoca will raise from his grave and tell everyone to Buy American. Maybe American should never have started globalization.

At least Apple hasnt moved to the Cayman Islands.

[fraklinc]

Originally Posted by 801

Look at all the stuff you have purchased in the last several years. It's all made like that. Look at all the crap you have accumulated, and think on the place and way it was made "in china". This case just points out the very best of the manufacturing culture done overseas.

Ever been to a Chinese factory? I have. Ever been to a Mexican Maquiladora? Plenty.

The crap you enjoy is made in someone else's misery.
Go see.

Welcome to the real world my friend. If Bill gates takes all his billions and make about 50 thousand people all millionaires, theirs a 95% chance in a years all of them will be at square 1 and he will became a billionaire again.

[Tonkin]

U.S. Corporations sought-out cheap labor to make more money for their investors. That's why the U.S. makes nothing.

The consumers (deaf, dumb, and blind) buy what's cheap and do not, for a moment, consider where "IT" was made, or how poor a life the assembler may have.

When "IT" breaks, or when the buyer has to deal with off-shored support, the tinker-toy structure of our economy begins to emerge.

Greedy at the top in every nation get rich. In the US, we get snazzy pablum with touch-screens. IN Taiwan and the PRC, they get screwed and pissed.

[Booga]

Former workers, some of whom were at the protest, have already turned this argument on its head and have argued that Wintek ought to rehire now that the economy, and the company, have started recovering from the financial crash.

"The food at this restaurant is horrible! And the portions are so small!"

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by mstone

I'm really sick of having everything made in China. Apple is a US company. I think their products should be made in the US. Let China develop their own brands and design their own products, like Japan does. China's contract industries have a really bad reputation for cheating and underhanded business practices. And I certainly don't trust their government.

I have several Chinese friends here in the US and many of them say the same thing about China.

But the blame isn't all theirs. The greed of many US corporations has forced everyone to send manufacturing jobs to China in order to stay competitive. It is a downward spiral that will be difficult to reverse.

What is the deal with anti-business sentiment that regularly creeps into these discussions. Businesses deal in the real world where "competition" exists. Many times low cost is the deciding factor when it comes to another company choosing which Chinese supplier will get their business. How does greed come into it? Business is typically not a personal thing, it is driven by numbers (dollars and profits). If you cannot compete, you cannot profit, you cannot employ workers to aid in the manufacturing process, and you cannot survive. It's very, very simple. If cost was suddenly not an issue with customers, they would give their business to anyone. That never happens.

[retroneo]

Look what happens when Steve's gone...

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by retroneo

Look what happens when Steve's gone...

Same thing happened when he was at the helm, around 2006, regarding iPod manufacture (sweatshop conditions, etc.) And it seems to have been even worse back then.

[macologist]

Some well maid points here. Glad to see that it's more civil, unlike some other articles I've read on this site, where people get into personal insults...

If MSFT and other Apple competitors don't jump on this kind of stories, then maybe it's because nobody's perfect, and stuff like that is not limited just to Apple? Either way, I'd like to see Apple get better at preventing stuff like this!

Behind every stock there are real lives, and it's hard for the shareholders to always have a spotless stock.

Globalization is a complicated topic too. I got Mixed Feelings on that topic too.

Whether it's Mexico, or Chinese "Worker Paradise", it's same old story - the bosses can chant Karl Marx slogans, like they do in Red China, and deny basic freedoms to their people! Then, ala the former USSR, they'll rename themselves into the Democrats, Patriots, or any other label, except Communist, and continue the abuses! Human Greed, and Power Lust transcend all ideologies! The rest is just a slick PR!

Blaming it all on the "Western" Exploitation (Apple or any other corporation), and not demand better rules from their own governments can be a cheap shot too.

The "West" alone can't fix all local problems, even if it has 100 Al Gores on it's side! There is a limit to everyone's influence!

All that is work in progress, which is never clean or fast for anyone!

Hope Apple is reading this, and gets better at • preventing • stuff like this! At the same time, can Apple or any company guarantee anyone a job for life? That would be nice, but the world is changing...

[mstone]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

It's very, very simple. If cost was suddenly not an issue with customers, they would give their business to anyone. That never happens.

If it was really so simple, everyone in the world would satisfied with their lives. Fact is, it is rather complicated. Short term profit has become more important than than long term sustainability. Greed and selfishness are the foundations of modern corporate attitudes which has lead to all manner of evil. I'm not anti-business at all, in fact I own a couple, and I do understand the necessity to make a profit, but I prefer to do business with like minded people. Not just anyone can be a customer of mine.

[Quadra 610]

You don't manufacture in America anymore (on the flipside of the argument) because paying unionized workers is getting to be too expensive (and has been too expensive for years.) Everyone wants benefits, coverage for everything, etc., better hours, better pay. You name it. Unions are fine, but the attitude of the American worker in this climate of I-want-it-now purchases, credit abuse, and an unwillngness to wait until one can afford said luxury item has all contributed to shipping jobs overseas.

It's almost unheard of to drive an older car, or not have that top-end LCD or Plasma in the superstore Window. Coddling and more-pay-for-less-effort is the game in North America. Just look at what Auto Workers' Unions have done to the industry.

In Japan, for instance, it's all about a rice-bowl. And most of them have learned to live with it, accept it, and value other things besides collecting as many material things as possible. You get twice, three times the productivity with a fraction of the expectation. And they seem to actually give a damn about what they produce. And they're by far the healthiest nation on the planet, to boot. And for wahtever reasons, Asian cultures in general are far better at saving than their North American counterparts. The average Canadian and American family has virtually no savings, most of their lives are leased and mortgaged out. The debt collection business in North America is booming, and has been for some time now. I've been a part of that biz for years, and there's no shortage of work in that area.

There is this colossal sense of entitlement that seems to have pervaded the American workforce over the last 25 years: "i want benefits, I want dental, I want maternity leave, personal days, I want x amount of vacation hours, I want etc., etc!!"

Now we're all paying for it.

The problem really comes down to North American values and mentality when it comes to work and posessions. They stink.

[@homenow]

Originally Posted by brucep

it's not so simple as you say
yet it is simple
is it not ?
china first killed whole Usa industries by subsidizing there plants
while we slept or even helped them
it's not just labor costs
its worker rights we have in the Usa that the chinese don't and never will have
These poor workers stole our jobs .

It's not right to abuse them .. But how can they compete without cheating ??

we should make the apple stuff here in the Usa

It started with "Most Favored Nation" trading status given to China back in the 70's and continued through the Bush Administration. This despite the blatant failure of the Chinese government to enforce copyright and patin protections as well as their human rights abuses, currency manipulation, and closed markets.

The problem for China, and they are paying for it now, is that when the US consumer market dwindles they do not have enough of a native consumer market to keep their economy stabilized. To solve this they are going to have to make more of an effort to increase their middle class, which means increasing pay. This in turn means losing jobs to other countries as their labor costs rise.

[mstone]

I don't disagree with your premise at all but this statement might need a citation of some sort to be accepted.

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

[Japanese]... And they're by far the healthiest nation on the planet, to boot.

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by mstone

I don't disagree with your premise at all but this statement might need a citation of some sort to be accepted.

Just research the Japanese diet (most of it still isn't Westernized) and the cancer rates in Japan. In Okinawa, for example, there is no such thing as a mammogram. Hardly any cancer.

The traditional Japanese kitchen is unsurpassed in terms of the healthful foods used.

Barring certain cultures and tribes in remote areas, the Japanese are the longest-lived industrialized people on Earth.

[city]

Originally Posted by BHoughton

I ... but they still have a choice...

They don't have a choice! Starving is not a choice.

[mstone]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Just research the Japanese diet (most of it still isn't Westernized) and the cancer rates in Japan. In Okinawa, for example, there is no such thing as a mammogram. Hardly any cancer.

The traditional Japaenese kitchen is unsurpassed in terms of the healthful foods used.

Barring certin cultures and tribes in remote areas, the Japanese are the longest-lived people on Earth.

They sell a lot of cigarettes in Japan. Tribes in remote area don't usually have a very long life expectancy.

From WHO
http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre...s_20020528.htm

About 51% of men smoke in Japan - this figure has dropped from the 1980s, but it is still very high for a developed nation.
Prevalence of smoking among women, once considered almost taboo, has risen dramatically in the last decade to nearly 10%.
Japan's Finance Ministry is a major shareholder in Japan Tobacco, a multinational.
A survey in the early 1990s found that 44% of male physicians smoke in Japan.
With 500,000 cigarette vending machines, the young can easily buy cigarettes.
It's estimated that about one in eight deaths is due to smoking, (about 100,000 deaths a year). Smoking may also contribute to four of the five leading causes of death.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer, with more than 50,000 deaths a year.
More Japanese men die of lung cancer than suicide. The rate of lung cancer deaths is 46 per 100,000 people while the suicide rate is 30 per 100,000.
Japan has some of the weakest anti-tobacco laws for a developed nation, with few smoke-free public areas.

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by mstone

They sell a lot of cigarettes in Japan. Tribes in remote area don't usually have a very long life expectancy.

I'm really not interested in debating the issue. See for yourself if you're interested.

The Japanese diet is model for the world. Unfortunately, McDonalds and American values about food have penetrated even there, but not to the degree that it has elsewhere.

[BHoughton]

Originally Posted by city

They don't have a choice! Starving is not a choice.

But staying with that employer is! Can't find better work? Educate/Better yourself to allow yourself better opportunities!

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by mstone

They sell a lot of cigarettes in Japan. Tribes in remote area don't usually have a very long life expectancy.

From WHO
http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre...s_20020528.htm

About 51% of men smoke in Japan - this figure has dropped from the 1980s, but it is still very high for a developed nation.
Prevalence of smoking among women, once considered almost taboo, has risen dramatically in the last decade to nearly 10%.
Japan's Finance Ministry is a major shareholder in Japan Tobacco, a multinational.
A survey in the early 1990s found that 44% of male physicians smoke in Japan.
With 500,000 cigarette vending machines, the young can easily buy cigarettes.
It's estimated that about one in eight deaths is due to smoking, (about 100,000 deaths a year). Smoking may also contribute to four of the five leading causes of death.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer, with more than 50,000 deaths a year.
More Japanese men die of lung cancer than suicide. The rate of lung cancer deaths is 46 per 100,000 people while the suicide rate is 30 per 100,000.
Japan has some of the weakest anti-tobacco laws for a developed nation, with few smoke-free public areas.

So what?

And how does that impact average life expectancy for men and women in Japan compared to other countries?

And in North America the average middle-class family gorges on red meat and fast food. Especially lower income households.

[mstone]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

I'm really not interested in debating the issue. See for yourself if you're interested.

The Japanese diet is model for the world. Unfortunately, McDonalds and American values about food have penetrated even there, but not to the degree that it has elsewhere.

Ok let's not debate.

I dislike Japanese food and they are rated 3rd in life expectancy

[801]

Why do you think Apple is sitting on a pile of money? California development costs are high, particularly the software, and hardware design. Ever check the price of realestate in Cupertino? Marketing cost are high. Like those cutesy commercials ? So how do they make it up? Build in China. Minimize shipping cost with smaller," environmentally friendly" packaging that cuts cost, and sounds good on the "one more thing speech". It Keeps N2N moving, ( while billing back to the owner for use, I imagine)

Do you get it? It has to be made up somewhere. China is where.

Brilliant Really.

And, as Steve would say....

One more thing....

I used to work in electronic factory automation. Do you think Toshiba has humans building sub miniature Hard Drives for ipods? No. It could be done here. But it is cheaper to have lots of cheap overworked hands then to buy the gear and keep it running.

Like I said: Brilliant.
And you get to pay for it.

[mechengit]

It sounds like the supplier really pushed the workers to the edge. In Taiwan and China, workers and engineers in the electronic industry work AT LEAST 60 hrs per week, which is considered perfectly normal over there. Many of them are even pushed to 70 to 80 hrs a week without a single complain, even if the overtime fee is minimal.

Even as the manufacturing cost has been getting lower, Apple has not passed it onto the consumers. What have we got? Plastic Enclosures that won't last... TN Screen... Lower Reliability... and bunch of disappointed old Mac fans.

[MacTripper]

In my opinion, globalization has caused the severe deflation we are seeing in the United States.

It's been coming for quite some time, across multiple administrations.


After WWII America was the the worlds economy. We elevated our standard of living to include nearly

90% of the worlds resources. Everyone elses economy depended mostly on ours.

Now the world's playing field is being leveled, we are going down to match.


This deflation we are in now was attempted to be defeated by the drastic lowering of the prime rate,

caused the real estate bubble, then of course the sub-prime socialization attempt by Congress,

finally the post real estate bubble recession and the mass foreclosures and bank failures, with the

world being bilked with combined BBB and AAA rated securities called CDO's that were rated AAA

instead of something more realistic to match their contents. Thus world recession.


So deflation came anyway. but at least they tried.

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/I...Inflation.aspx


In my opinion the middle class is going to get wiped out, it will just be the rich and the poor working for them.

Get further depressed here.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/...9e0bee32_o.jpg

and here

http://money.cnn.com/news/storysuppl...ures/index.htm


So this is a GLOBAL effect, Americans are paying too much for their houses they owe more than it's

worth. People are saving money because things are getting worse. People are saving money

because tomorrow some things will get cheaper and necessities will get more expensive.


It's deflation. Cash is king!

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by mstone

Ok let's not debate.

I dislike Japanese food and they are rated 3rd in life expectancy

Here's the most recent fromt the WHO. Japan and San Marino are tops.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...8xWBwD98AOR2O5


http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm

Japan ranks near the highest. I guuss you were looking at a similar list.

http://web-japan.org/trends/lifestyle/lif031121.html

And again.

I don't pull random things out of the air around here.

[paxman]

Originally Posted by mstone

If it was really so simple, everyone in the world would satisfied with their lives. Fact is, it is rather complicated. Short term profit has become more important than than long term sustainability. Greed and selfishness are the foundations of modern corporate attitudes which has lead to all manner of evil. I'm not anti-business at all, in fact I own a couple, and I do understand the necessity to make a profit, but I prefer to do business with like minded people. Not just anyone can be a customer of mine.

Apple is not to blame but relying on underpaid workers is symptomatic of the world capitalism has created, and it is shameful. In order to compete with Asia we will not be able to pay our workers a decent living wage which all workers deserve, whichever part of the world they live. There is no way 'business' can self regulate to ensure workers rights are honored. We all expect and demand cheap goods, and as such we are complicit. I am not sure how we can get to a point where we accept the true cost of what we want and are prepared to pay for it, but I do know that something must be done.

[paxman]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

In my opinion, globalization has caused the severe deflation we are seeing in the United States.

It's been coming for quite some time, across multiple administrations.....

What's with the double spacing? Why don't you CAPITALIZE as well? Then we'll REALLY TAKE NOTICE