Labor protestors plan demonstrations for iPad launch
Protestors looking to steal a bit of Apple's iPad launch day thunder are preparing to hold demonstrations at various Apple Store locations on Friday in hopes of spreading awareness about the labor conditions in the Chinese factories making the device.
Instead of asking for broad third-party supplier labor reforms, investigations, and "an ethical iPhone, Change.org campaigners will take to Apple retail outlets on Friday in for Apple to build "an ethical iPad," reports GigaOM.
The protestors, lead by organizer Mark Shields, will take advantage of the hype surrounding the new iPad's launch and hold multi-store demonstrations when retail locations open at 8 a.m. in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco.
Despite Apple's continuing efforts toward bettering labor conditions in its contracted factories in China, Shields says that more can be done.
“It’s great to see Apple taking important steps like the factory audit this month, and pay raises for the factory workers,” Shields said. “But Apple hasn’t crossed the finish line yet. New product releases, like the iPad 3 this week, have typically been the most dangerous for workers because of the incredible pressure they are under to meet release production deadlines.”
Shields' online petition asking for the protection of Chinese factory workers has gathered over 251,000 signatures, and has sparked a media blitz regarding the conditions under which Apple products are made. The movement first gained momentum when a pair of New York Times reports investigated major Chinese electronics builder Foxconn, which is a major Apple contractor, over alleged worker abuse.
Mark Shields (left) speaking with reporters outside an Apple Store over labor concerns. | Source: The Washington Post
Despite Foxconn's impressive client list of electronic heavyweights that include Microsoft, HP and Sony, the burden of guilt has been placed squarely on Apple by Change.org and SumOfUs.org.
In response to the mounting criticism, Apple asked the Fair Labor Association to conduct an inspection of its third-party suppliers in Asia. Although the FLA noted that Foxconn's factories were "first class," the auditors did find that many issues needed to be resolved. Workers at the factory later claimed that Foxconn hid underage workers from inspectors in order to avoid scrutiny.
In Apple's annual supplier code of conduct, employees may be aged 16 to 18 years old if they can legally work, though special restrictions limit the type and amount of work they perform.
Most recently, it was reported that Apple allegedly conducted an inspection of an iPad factory run by Chinese company Pegatron immediately before a blast occurred that injured 61 people. The claim brings into question whether Apple's audits are effective in stopping workplace accidents.
The planned Friday protests follow a series of demonstrations in February, though the high turnout for the iPad launch is expected to bring a larger media presence for Change.org to exploit.
[ View article on AppleInsider ]
Comments
I keep forgetting that Apple has the only products that are made in China.
Protestors looking to steal a bit of Apple's iPad launch day thunder are preparing to hold demonstrations at various Apple Store locations on Friday in hopes of spreading awareness about the labor conditions in the Chinese factories making the device.
Good for them. Nothing will change unless proper publicity is given to the situation.
I hope that they expand their efforts to the other electronics giants as well.
That guy is wearing a nice coat and scarf that probably cost more than a month wages for the Chinese workers who made it.
Exactly. Meanwhile anyone betting the date AAPL passes GOOG share price? Meaningless I know but entertaining ...
Exactly. Meanwhile anyone betting the date AAPL passes GOOG share price? Meaningless I know but entertaining ...
Sort of like hanging around a Walmart at midnight, seeing who might actually show up to buy an iPad there.
Because, you know, the Apple products that Walmart sells are the only items made in China!
Also see conflicting articles such as this one that came out today on The Street:
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/stor...hat-wasnt.html
You do realize that these workers without jobs provided by our manufacturing orders would be expelled from the cities and have to go back to living in their stone cave's and burning dung for fuel.
Is that the only alternative to better working conditions?
I keep forgetting that Apple has the only products that are made in China.
Wal-Mart agrees. Apple is alone in being evil supporters of Chinese manufacturing.
What's the difference between these lunatics and the Westboro Church protesters? Not much I'd say. They're both shameless publicity whores and delusional radicals who go around spreading their extremely offensive and braindead ideas.
Hopefully the police will come and arrest them for being a public nuisance, disturbing the peace and for holding an illegal protest if they lack all of the necessary permits. Luckily for them, I won't be waiting in any Apple store line tomorrow, because I don't take too kindly to any dipshits.
Is that the only alternative to better working conditions?
They actually have better working conditions than the rest of the manufacturing sector in China.