There is a movement to ensure all factory workers involved in making iPhones are treated fairly. We often hear the stereotypical horror stories of factory line conditions however these often have more truth behind them than we expect. Read the following article about the reccent protests. What do you think about the protest? Discuss the ethical implications of this manufacturing situation. What are your thoughts about technology manufacturing in general?
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/09/technology/apple_foxconn_petition/index.htm
Also, no class on Wednesday but there will be a blog post that day. Make sure you do it!!!
I think that people have the right to have nice working conditions and to be treated fairly so if what is being said about apple corp. not treating there workers right is true then i believe theres needs to be a change. Apple is a huge corporation with no shortages of money or workers at all so why they beklieve that they should be allowed to treat people with disrespect i do not get. I meen look around you cant pass five people without seeing at least one with an ipod or an iphone.
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty understandable, I mean these "horror stories" are pretty well documented. And apple isn't exactly known for it's charity and generosity. I don't know if I'm going to start protesting myself but as far as I see it, the more attention brought to these conditions the better.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard any horror stories about factory workers getting worked too hard becaause i dont believe that someone can get worked too hard, and as far as the protest go, i believe if the factory line feels they are getting mistreated then a protest is more than neccessary
ReplyDeleteYou got it all wrong man, the people protesting are US citizens. The factory workers are poor Chinese people who have almost zero rights or so in how long they work and how much they make. These guys will work 15 hours a day for pocket change.
DeleteI think the protests are a good idea. It is hard to represent people of other countries though because every country does things differently. I know that
ReplyDeleteChina is currently going through a technological revolution stage and that working conditions are not going to be the best there. I also know that Apple probably had no idea that such working conditions were going on because they focus their products in high class countries instead of lower class countries. I do not really think that it is right that they should be treated like that, and I do agree that Apple should pay more attention to their action overseas, but I also feel that if they are going to make an impact it has to be the workers themselves and not citizens who have never met them before. I also think that technology manufacturing is something that needs to get done and robots can do them better then humans can.
I think the protesters mean good and well. If they can make a change for the betterment of a group of people then more power to them. Working for $1 should not be allowed anywhere, especially if people are having to do slave labor that requires they work like machines. There should be strong restrictions and regulations on technology manufacturing, and they should be followed.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about these protests. I understand that workers all over need to be treated fairly and with safety and respect. However, these protesters need to look at the whole situation. If the conditions are so bad in China, then the workers should quit and find another job. Even though they are not getting paid well and given the greatest benifits, this may be the best working opportunity they have. On the other hand, Apple and other large countries need to realize that people are more important than things.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video it is a little bit sad to see how these workers don't have any idea what they are even making just do what they are told and thats its. As much money as the company is making, these workers should be paid a decent wage. I wonder where all this money goes.
DeleteI think the protest is just because we live in a day and age where sweat shops should be a thing of the past, if retailers make their products in this manner they should expect to be boycotted.
ReplyDeletei think the protesters mean good and well. Not treating there workers right is true then i believe theres needs to be a change about apple. If people have the right to have nice working conditions and to be treated fairly then let it be...
ReplyDeleteI think the protest is good because this shows that people will stand up for the rights of others and push for change. The article really did not give specifics on the kind of abuse the workers are suffering but they are probably not being treated properly. Most factory workers do not work under the greatest conditions. I know as much about technology manufacturing as a city person knows where their milk and meat actually come from.
ReplyDeleteI am not too surprised by this. Most factories don't have up to par working conditions. It shouldn't be a big deal just because it is happening in apple factories. Most factories have this kind of problem. Ethically, they definitely need to change something but from a business stand point they feel they are doing the right thing because they are profitable.
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DeleteI don't think Apple should be held accountable for a factory they don't own. They can't regulate how the workers are treated. That's like me being held accountable for another students grades because we are in the same class.
DeleteI think the protests mean well. Working conditions need to better for those all around the world, even those where there aren't as strict regulations for manufacturing companies. China is a growing economy and the regulations may not be as strict and the minimum wage may not be so high. Apple and other tech companies try to take advantage of that. However, working conditions do need to be improved.
ReplyDeleteI think that the protest is a good thing. Everyone should be entitled to good working conditions so that the job that is being preformed can be done in a timely manor and efficiently. It is good that people are standing up for the rights of others but they have to make sure that they know the whole story before they take too big of a step. I think that technology manufacturing should be watched carefully so that everyone that is working in the factory will be safe.
ReplyDeleteI think the protest is for good. It is commonly known that Apple isn't the kindest company to work for and this just solidifys that thought. When you are working for one of the biggest companies in the world you would expect to be treated better. These sweatshops shouldn't be allowed in this modern world.
ReplyDeletemy thoughts on the video is that I do not feel like they are being payed enough, but one dollar is a lot of money is yen as well. Also if FoxConn has made all of these changes then why are there still people complaining about their working conditions and committingn suicide. I have a feeling that they offer these things but only to a select group.
ReplyDeleteI think that the workers in these factories should be making more money an hour then they currently are. This is not fair to the workers that devote their lives to their job. If they are having to do this kind of work they should be paid a higher wage and not so many hours so that accidents do not happen.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing that video i think in every factory it should be a comfortable enviroment and also a safe workplace. the head man in charge should go on the reality television show undercover boss and see how it feels to be worked so hard
ReplyDeleteIf a company, like FOXCONN, tries to keep their factory workers quiet like the video mentions many times, then obivously they have stuff they want to hide. I could not handle having the feeling of just working and sleeping with no personal life.
ReplyDeleteBig business is looking for the most desperate work force, in that any abuse will be looked over in order to keep the jobs. As consumers we need to boycott these products to stop the unethical treatment of workers,
ReplyDeleteYea i completely agree, but it is hard to get everyone to boycott something.
DeleteI think the protest is completely necessary if people are being treated poorly. Being treated poorly is always going to be considered bad, but it seems like we hear about it alot in other less fortunate countries. It seems like manual labor is becoming a thing of the past anyways with computer assembly lines. Apple probably shouldn't be held accountable for the factory that they don't own. I'm sure they will end up getting in trouble for it anyways because people will freak out about it.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS SO TRUE, BEING TREATED POORLY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED BAD AND WILL ALWAYS BE BAD, GREAT STUFF
DeleteI think it's unfair that these china workers are working so hard and hardly getting paid some less than a dollar. I didn't know that apple products went though all of this stuff to be make it I just assumed there was a lot of business that produced the same product, sponsored by the same brand. However its totally different, I am all for the protest I think something should be done about this, and soon.
ReplyDeleteThe video made me think that Foxconn needs to be investigated and not necessarily Apple. The factory isn't owned by Apple and other tech companies also use Foxconn factories. These companies have been criticized as well. Foxconn needs to improve conditions.
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