Foxconn

[Kimmler]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Foxconn_suicides

Apple boss Steve Jobs insists that Foxconn is "...not a sweatshop" and insists "We're all over this"

He insists regular inspections have been made and that conditions are improving for those working in the plant.

But, human rights group Sacom, which interviewed 100 workers and sent its own undercover reporters into Foxconn plants over the last six months, has concluded that staff continue to be treated "like machines"

They found that:

- A pay rise of 2000 Yuan per month promised at the time of worldwide interest in the suicides has failed to materialise.

- Staff are officially limited to working 'only' 80 hrs per week; most are bullied into working more and cheating on their overtime records

- Treats only extend as far as days out to workers rallies (!)

- A culture of absolute obedience still prevails at the plant which includes disciplinary actions including workers having to copy out sayings of Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, such as "A harsh environment is a good thing" & "Hungry people have specially clear minds".

Last week Apple announced "phenomenal" profits of £2.7bn in the last 1/4 and is poised to overtake Exxon Mobil as the US's biggest company.

So, what did they have to say about the Sacom report? As of yet nothing.

[rodney203]

Just my two cents.

I have come to few firm conclusions regarding our business dealings with largely unfree countries; not regarding what our law should require of our companies, what our consumers should do, nor what our government should do. It seems to be a very complex issue with interesting claims on both sides. One thing I do believe is that American companies should know that our government will do nothing on their behalf in their doing business in an unfree country.

[Selene]

Folks:

Here is a concept.

We, as individual Americans, are free to buy, or not to buy a specific product [well that was true up until the passage of the Anti-Individualism Bill that was signed into law by the marxist in the White House which will force every American to purchase the product that the government tells them to purchase].

However, prior to the passage of that law, we had the free choice.

Therefore, we can simply stop buying Steve Jobs' products that are allegedly produced by "slave labor."

Simple. Unfortunately, that would actually mean that people would have to practice what they preach which would eliminate all the socialists, communists, progressives, marxists and John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry and Al "I left my limo running for over an hour while I spoke at a paid speech" Gore.

Adam

shining the light on the marxist roaches

[anthony]

Folks:

Here is a concept.

We, as individual Americans, are free to buy, or not to buy a specific product [well that was true up until the passage of the Anti-Individualism Bill that was signed into law by the marxist in the White House which will force every American to purchase the product that the government tells them to purchase].

However, prior to the passage of that law, we had the free choice.

Therefore, we can simply stop buying Steve Jobs' products that are allegedly produced by "slave labor."

Simple. Unfortunately, that would actually mean that people would have to practice what they preach which would eliminate all the socialists, communists, progressives, marxists and John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry and Al "I left my limo running for over an hour while I spoke at a paid speech" Gore.

Adam

shining the light on the marxist roaches

Absolutely: let all those who have social consciences vote with their wallets.

And what about doing away with minimum wage laws, allowing wages to be market-related and competitive, and bring those industries back home.

(I think it was GM I read about that was paying assembly line workers $75 per hour? Looks like the unions cooked the proverbial golden goose.)

[Selene]

Folks:

Here is a concept.

We, as individual Americans, are free to buy, or not to buy a specific product [well that was true up until the passage of the Anti-Individualism Bill that was signed into law by the marxist in the White House which will force every American to purchase the product that the government tells them to purchase].

However, prior to the passage of that law, we had the free choice.

Therefore, we can simply stop buying Steve Jobs' products that are allegedly produced by "slave labor."

Simple. Unfortunately, that would actually mean that people would have to practice what they preach which would eliminate all the socialists, communists, progressives, marxists and John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry and Al "I left my limo running for over an hour while I spoke at a paid speech" Gore.

Adam

shining the light on the marxist roaches

Absolutely: let all those who have social consciences vote with their wallets.

And what about doing away with minimum wage laws, allowing wages to be market-related and competitive, and bring those industries back home.

(I think it was GM I read about that was paying assembly line workers $75 per hour? Looks like the unions cooked the proverbial golden goose.)

Yep. Same vehicle was made about 1000 miles south for $38.00 an hour by very happy workers in, I believe a Tennessee or Kentucky plant. And here is a real surprise, the surrounding towns were prosperous also. Amazing how reality works.

Meanwhile, Michigan has moved from one of the medium average age states to a state with one of the oldest populations in a matter of the last five years. Detroit is a virtual ghost town. Mayor Dave Bing, used to be a championship point guard for the Detroit Pistons, had proposed bulldozing about 1/3 to 1/2 of the city and making it pastoral!!

Paging the Molochs and the Eloi!

Adam

[pippi]

Al "I left my limo running for over an hour while I spoke at a paid speech" Gore.

Al gore is on apple's board of directors.

http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/gore.html

[Selene]

Al "I left my limo running for over an hour while I spoke at a paid speech" Gore.

Al gore is on apple's board of directors.

http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/gore.html

Thanks. I know. He is one of the lowest forms of human flotsam and jetsam existing.

Actually caused me to vote for G.W. in 2000 rather than Libertarian or 3rd party.

My favorite Gore speech was to that convention when he dragged his dead sister out of the grave. She died of lung cancer apparently from cigarette smoking. The pompous Al must have forgotten how his family made their fortune. This creature gives pond scum a bad name.

Adam

[pippi]

This creature gives pond scum a bad name.

Adam

oh I know-I totally agree!

[equality72521]

This creature gives pond scum a bad name.

Adam

oh I know-I totally agree!

Its sad Apple makes great products. as for the original post. I am skeptical of stories like this because of the trashing the unions and others have done to companies like wal-mart. The vast majority of the time the stories are trash with little bits of truth.