Foxconn workers rise up against security guards, dozens arrested

[Corey]

A “minor incident” at a Foxconn factory in Chengdu, China sparked a riot on Monday as a number of workers attacked company security guards. Despite Apple’s efforts to improve conditions in it’s partners’ factories, workers are still displeased. Following an incident involving a theft in a factory dormitory, some employees with grudges against the security guards jumped at the chance to retaliate. The event soon escalated, with more than a thousand workers joining in by throwing trash cans and destroying facilities, Want China Times reported. Foxconn security guards were forced to call the police, who arrived at the scene by the hundreds. The riot lasted for two hours and dozens of workers were reportedly arrested. The plant produces liquid crystal displays for Apple’s iPhone and is the same factory where an explosion killed two workers and injured 16 others last May.

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[Ghostwind]

all so we can have over-priced smartphones... The conditions and pay these people put up with is absolutely unacceptable

[TulsaGeoff]

Foxconn employees have a history of suicide and bad working conditions. They also make alot of OEM motherboards for companies like dell and hp.

Edited June 7, 2012 by TulsaGeoff

[Rabidraccoon]

All the practices for off-shoring is based on consumer greed. Now why would you buy a $800 locally made tablet when one can be made off-shore for $200? More money in your pocket. Why do people shop at Walmarts. The price is low. On the flip side. Shareholders are happy because stock prices go up because the costs of producing the product are going down. More profit. Greed. Everyone wants to make money. You see it in almost every industry. Reduce costs to increase profits. Lower workers salaries or offshore. Labour is usually the biggest cost of production. That's why we use robots. Just my two cents. (Or in Canada, my 5 cents, no more pennies here.)

[stabak]

All the practices for off-shoring is based on consumer greed. Now why would you buy a $800 locally made tablet when one can be made off-shore for $200? More money in your pocket. Why do people shop at Walmarts. The price is low. On the flip side. Shareholders are happy because stock prices go up because the costs of producing the product are going down. More profit. Greed. Everyone wants to make money. You see it in almost every industry. Reduce costs to increase profits. Lower workers salaries or offshore. Labour is usually the biggest cost of production. That's why we use robots. Just my two cents. (Or in Canada, my 5 cents, no more pennies here.)

 

Sad but true that is our system all over the world atm "produce cheap - sell expensive". And there are only few exceptions.

using Robots ? is good for the price (If the acquisition costs are calculated correctly ), unfortunately they also have to be produced somewhere.

 

as you said correctly, it's all about and even those who already have enough, only think about how to get even more.

[Spyderwebber]

It's unfortunate that people have to endure this. The Wal-Mart mentality, while it appears to help families with lower prices, it really hurts small businesses trying to provide a quality product to compete with these big boys. Everyone wants it cheaper, not realizing that cheaper is just that: cheap. Plus, not seeing first hand the actuality of the conditions the factory workers have to deal with makes it easier for people to buy the cheap stuff without thinking of the consequences.

[TulsaGeoff]

http://en.wikipedia....oxconn_suicides

 

As much attention as Foxconn gets for their poor work conditions, their suicide rate is still low compared to the rest of China according to this wikipedia page (who knows its validity).

 

On another note, its not going to be good day when the US doesnt manufacture anything. Ironic since we invented with assembly line on a large scale during WWII. I'm not sure how much is produced in Japan anymore either. They are considered the masters of perfecting the manufacturing process by minimizing wasted product and increasing effeciency (Six Sigma Manufacturing). We are turning into a lot of paper pushers producing not alot of anything.

Edited June 7, 2012 by TulsaGeoff