Foxconn Workers Clash With Quality Control, Go On Strike

[Phillip Swanson]

Thousands of Foxconn Workers went on Strike today according to a report by China Labor Watch.

The strike comes after a recent FLA report showed an improvement in working conditions. However, reports of Apple demanding greater output due to iPhone 5 shortages could have resulted in a dramatic drop off in working conditions, and quality. Apple’s iPhone 5 is the most complex iPhone to date, and Apple’s labor army were asked to construct these incredibly complex devices without proper training.

The drop in quality led to conflicts, aka fist-fights, between quality control staff and an enraged labor force.

Quality control inspectors fell into to conflicts with workers and were beat up multiple times by workers. Factory management turned a deaf ear to complaints about these conflicts and took no corrective measures. The result of both of these circumstances was a widespread work stoppage on the factory floor among workers and inspectors.

According to workers, there was a fight between workers and quality control inspectors in area K that led to the damage in inspection room CA, the injury of some people, and the hospitalization of others. After this, another similar incident occurred in area K, once again leading to quality control inspectors getting beat up. — China Labor Watch

CLW Executive Director Li Qiang claims “these workers just have too much pressure.” Pressure that has boiled over and could affect Apple’s ability to produce iPhones, and tarnish Foxconn’s image further.

Source: CLW [via Gizmodo]

[thazsar]

Maybe Apple needs to start producing their devices earlier so the workload is spread out over time instead of waiting till the last minute

[Outrager]

Maybe Apple needs to start producing their devices earlier so the workload is spread out over time instead of waiting till the last minute

That's not always possible if they want to keep with their 1 new device a year plan.

[KraXik]

Foxconn quality control is a piece of ****. Chips on phone straight out of the box is ********.

[LTechTalk]

Apple should open it's own factory and not use Foxconn anymore !

[Themrdecan]

Maybe they should fire them all and bring a factory to America and hire Americans to build the phones, teach those Chinese to be thankful they have jobs

mod edit/

[Anonymous]

Maybe they should fire them all and bring a factory to America and hire Americans to build the phones, teach those Chinese to be thankful they have jobs mod edit/

Racism. Racism everywhere.

[cwainer]

Maybe it is time to start manufacturing in the US!!!

[Feanor64]

Maybe they should fire them all and bring a factory to America and hire Americans to build the phones, teach those Chinese to be thankful they have jobs mod edit/

if they do that they have to pay american salaries are u nuts they dont care about patriotism just the dough bro thats the major reason why they have been so profitable they pay these guys **** wages compared to american wages build a ton of phones and then well everyone buys them the overhead is so low over there compared to over here but lets not pick on them all tech giants do it not just apple but just because everyone does it doesnt make it right they would still be profitable if they built the phones in america they just wouldnt be AS profitable...

[unison999]

Anyone who uses violence to solve problems should be fired, just to show that it is not tolerated.
If there is too much pressure, time to find another job.
If iPhone is too hard to make, time to find skilled labor and pay higher rate.

[jrrtps]

Maybe it is time to start manufacturing in the US!!!

Viva!!! finally someone is thinking correctly.....

[Lohand]

Maybe it is time to start manufacturing in the US!!!

Exactly!!!!!!! The first stages could be automated and the last stages (quality control, final assembly, etc.)
done by AMERICAN WORKERS!

1. Bring tariffs up to a level playing field on imported phones.
2. Give tax breaks/incentives to companies that hire American workers.
3. and NO the cost of these devices to the consumer won't "skyrocket" because the labor force is American
4. Why? Because the mobile Operators here in the US offset the costs with subsidies ($199.00 for 2 years)
5. Cellphones are different in that regard. When is the last time you met someone in the US that paid $800+ for an iPhone?

Yea, thought so...


PS Willard "Mitt" Romney (the man trying hard to be the Outsource'er n Chief) would be a HORRIBLE President! Sayin...

[unison999]

Exactly!!!!!!! The first stages could be automated and the last stages (quality control, final assembly, etc.)
done by AMERICAN WORKERS!

1. Bring tariffs up to a level playing field on imported phones.
2. Give tax breaks/incentives to companies that hire American workers.
3. and NO the cost of these devices to the consumer won't "skyrocket" because the labor force is American
4. Why? Because the mobile Operators here in the US offset the costs with subsidies ($199.00 for 2 years)
5. So, cellphones are different in that regard. When is the last time you met someone in the US that paid $800+ for an iPhone?

Yea, thought so...


PS Willard "Mitt" Romney (the man trying hard to be the Outsource'er n Chief) would be a HORRIBLE President! Sayin...

I am all for Americans making the phones/tablets/computers, but realistically speaking companies is all about bottom line and no way U.S. can compete.
Just off the top of my head:
1. With company this big the labor force will be big as well so you know they will scream union, and we know how well it worked out in automotive industry. Might want to Google the amount of the money you pay for an American automobile is going to cost of having an union, it might surprise you.
2. The subsidies mobile operators give is not going to manufacturer, it is going to consumer. That means cost for the phone is increased to a point it may be instead of a $200 subsidized iPhone 5 it is $400+ subsidized iPhone 5 with 2 year contract.
Honestly how many of you would do it? I think many people would look for alternatives when iPhone get that expensive to own.

[Breezy215]

Racism. Racism everywhere.

I was about to type the same thing!!! Smh

[Mrteacup]

Exactly!!!!!!! The first stages could be automated and the last stages (quality control, final assembly, etc.)
done by AMERICAN WORKERS!

1. Bring tariffs up to a level playing field on imported phones.
2. Give tax breaks/incentives to companies that hire American workers.
3. and NO the cost of these devices to the consumer won't "skyrocket" because the labor force is American
4. Why? Because the mobile Operators here in the US offset the costs with subsidies ($199.00 for 2 years)
5. Cellphones are different in that regard. When is the last time you met someone in the US that paid $800+ for an iPhone?

Yea, thought so...


PS Willard "Mitt" Romney (the man trying hard to be the Outsource'er n Chief) would be a HORRIBLE President! Sayin...

the thing is in America factories aren't nearly as fast or as cheap. They get constant crap from organizations saying they are killing environment etc. and I'm not saying all Americans are like this but they don't know how to work all too often!

[Airwaves182]

Maybe they should fire them all and bring a factory to America and hire Americans to build the phones, teach those Chinese to be thankful they have jobs mod edit/

+1

[hogcia]

If I worked 70+ hours a week and had my boss screaming at me constantly to speed it up, I wouldn't think twice of putting my fist in his face!

[Rcworship]

Exactly!!!!!!! The first stages could be automated and the last stages (quality control, final assembly, etc.)
done by AMERICAN WORKERS!

1. Bring tariffs up to a level playing field on imported phones.
2. Give tax breaks/incentives to companies that hire American workers.
3. and NO the cost of these devices to the consumer won't "skyrocket" because the labor force is American
4. Why? Because the mobile Operators here in the US offset the costs with subsidies ($199.00 for 2 years)
5. Cellphones are different in that regard. When is the last time you met someone in the US that paid $800+ for an iPhone?

Yea, thought so...


PS Willard "Mitt" Romney (the man trying hard to be the Outsource'er n Chief) would be a HORRIBLE President! Sayin...

First off, why do you think these companies outsource? Take an Econ or business basics class. Labor is so much cheaper out of the US that it makes way too much since to outsource. If the work was done here in the US, apple would have to cover all the health and retirement benefits, pay all the taxes and govt fees, and as mentioned, have to deal with the pressure of unions. Ultimately, bottom line is bottom line. Apple certainly would not reduce their profit margin just to produce in America.

I happened to grab my iPhone 5 on release day (at lunch-10 minute wait!), and an Asian couple in front of us asked my wife to buy 2 units for them-at full $750-ish price. (So much for your certainty there) And BTW, the mobile carriers regret having to subsidize the cost of iPhone. Finally, Romney knows about business, successful school systems and budgets...more than we can say for the incumbent.

[Eonhpi]

No way they would do it here in US way to many regulations and permits . Have u seen the inside of foxconn its like a bees nest ...

[cmyk328]

Maybe they should fire them all and bring a factory to America and hire Americans to build the phones, teach those Chinese to be thankful they have jobs mod edit/

WOW! You're such a genius!