Foxconn iPhone factory goes on strike, citing overwork
updated 04:36 pm EDT, Fri October 5, 2012
Other issues include harsh quality control, worker violence
According to a new report by New York based China Labor Watch, approximately 3,000 workers at the Foxconn Zhengzhou factory have gone on strike off of the onsite quality control line, paralyzing multiple iPhone 5 production lines for the entire day. A combination of tightening quality control requirements coupled with mandatory shifts during the holiday reportedly led to violence and the strike. The strike echoes an event from last month, where 2,000 workers at a different factory staged a walkout and strike, shutting down production for a day.
China Labor Watch reports that "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. Yesterday, inspectors in area L received physical threats. When inspectors reported these issues to factory management, the management simply ignored and turned their back on the issue. For these reasons, all day and night shift inspectors carried out a work stoppage today that paralyzed the production lines."
A different Foxconn factory Taiyuan in faced riots recently, halting production on September 24. Four hours saw 2,000 of the plant's total 79,000 employees become unruly. About 40 people were taken to the hospital, and an undisclosed number of people were been arrested. The company's 120,000 workers at the Zhengzhou factory produce products for Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, Nokia, and others, but the fact that it manufactures parts for Apple's iDevices has drawn a great deal of criticism.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: 11-28-08
Foxconn has Apple completely at its mercy. Staging a strike right before the holidays is a good way to put the fear of god in Apple's management. Apple can only give in to whatever demands are being made. Apparently, Apple's standards are too high for their own good. Most companies are happy with marginal workmanship and so is Wall Street. Just produce a lot of a cheap products and that is entirely good enough to win favor on Wall Street. A company doesn't get extra points for being meticulous. Apple is only going to get screwed over for its pains along with Apple shareholders considering the beating Apple shares took today.