Don’t be fooled by Apple’s PR: Workers strike against sweatshop conditions
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Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) reports that on Jan. 10, workers at one of Foxconn’s China plants (in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province) went on strike. The factory produces Apple’s iPhone connector and products for other companies. SACOM suggests the strike resulted from the sweatshop working conditions at the plant, poor pay, lack of union representation, health and safety violations, and general lack of respect for the workers. The resulting protest by more than 1,000 workers was met with a harsh crackdown, with water cannons and physical violence apparently used against the strikers. SACOM notes the contrast between the ongoing harsh conditions reported by workers and the often-rosy public relations campaign by Foxconn and Apple.
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http://www.epi.org/blog/apple-foxconn-workers-strike-fengcheng/
Foxconn, which assembles products for Apple, Sony and Nokia, has come under the spotlight in recent years after suicides, labor unrest and the use of underage interns at its Chinese plants.
But Foxconn denied ownership of the plants, describing it as a "supply chain factory".
Sound familiar?
Federal Judge Says Wal-Mart Can Be Included In Warehouse Workers Class Action Lawsuit
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A potential class action lawsuit could determine how responsible companies need to be when it comes to third-party contract labor. Jesse Russell reports:
A federal judge has ruled that Walmart can be included in a class action lawsuit filed by workers for a contract warehouse. The Inland Empire, California warehouse is operated by Schneider Logistics and the employees have targeted the company with allegations of wage theft. While Walmart doesn’t directly own the warehouse the workers argue that the company has ultimate say over how the workers are treated and could apply pressure to ensure they’re treated right by contractors. The company has argued that the workers aren’t employed by the company, but that Walmart is taking the concerns seriously. Walmart is putting in place auditors to inspect contractors in the United States. The case could determine how involved major corporations who rely heavily on contract labor are responsible for how workers hired by their contractors are treated.
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http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/story.aspx?ID=1857586