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Foxconn Workers Reportedly Strike over iPhone 5 Quality Control Demands

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China Labor Watch reports (via Gizmodo) that thousands of Foxconn workers responsible for assembly of the iPhone 5 have gone on strike today, objecting to strict enforcement of increased quality control standards.
China Labor Watch (CLW) announced that at 1:00PM on October 5 (Beijing time), a strike occurred at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory that, according to workers, involved three to four thousand production workers. In addition to demanding that workers work during the holiday, Foxconn raised overly strict demands on product quality without providing worker training for the corresponding skills. This led to workers turning out products that did not meet standards and ultimately put a tremendous amount of pressure on workers.
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According to the report, Apple and Foxconn had raised quality control standards to address issues related to scratching and other blemishes on the iPhone 5 casing, but the new standards made it extremely difficult for workers to produce phones satisfying those requirements given the equipment and training available to them.

The issues have reportedly resulted in significant tensions between production line workers and quality control supervisors, with several skirmishes having broken out in recent days resulting in injuries and damage to production facilities. In addition, Foxconn reportedly eliminated holiday vacations for workers, perhaps referring to last weekend's Moon Festival, and the company has reportedly "turned a deaf ear" to worker complaints.

Apple and Foxconn have been struggling to keep up with demand for the iPhone 5, with new online orders through Apple still being quoted 3-4 week shipping estimates. Customers have also been complaining about scratching issues, particularly on the black model, with some customers reporting that their devices have arrived scratched right out of the box.

Article Link: Foxconn Workers Reportedly Strike over iPhone 5 Quality Control Demands
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/05/foxconn-workers-reportedly-strike-over-iphone-5-quality-control-demands/
robanga

robanga

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Aug 25, 2007
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So i take it the workers do not get paid the full amount if the quality standard is not maintained?...
 
V

Virtualball

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Jun 5, 2006
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Forget the fact that this deals with the iPhone; this feels like we're possibly witnessing labor strikes in China. If this is a part of a worker's rights revolution, this could lead to a huge moment in history!
 
truettray

truettray

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Sep 7, 2012
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We take our devices way too seriously. The Foxconn employees are not useless, lazy slobs. Lemons are commonplace in every market, and honestly- a few tiny scuffs are NOT A BIG DEAL. These are fellow human beings we are talking about.
 
S

Skika

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Mar 11, 2009
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Curse those workers get back to work i want my iphone5 quick.
 
KylePowers

KylePowers

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Mar 5, 2011
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You'd think with all the innovation that goes into smartphones these days, the manufacturing process could be a tad more automated.

I mean really, why do we still need people assembling these things?

//Yes I understand it's a large resource for employment, but clearly working conditions aren't particularly humane.
 
bushido

bushido

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i pitty and honestly feel bad for those people. i worked 4 weeks at a factory once and i just wanted to blow my head off.
 
T

TC25

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Mar 28, 2011
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Virtualball said:
Forget the fact that this deals with the iPhone; this feels like we're possibly witnessing labor strikes in China. If this is a part of a worker's rights revolution, this could lead to a huge moment in history!
Click to expand...

Huge moment = when China's economy is ruined by unions.
 
robanga

robanga

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Aug 25, 2007
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KylePowers said:
You'd think with all the innovation that goes into smartphones these days, the manufacturing process could be a tad more automated.

I mean really, why do we still need people assembling these things?

//Yes I understand it's a large resource for employment, but clearly working conditions aren't particularly humane.
Click to expand...

Robots do not work well for things requiring connectors and tight tolerances and really people do need the jobs...
 
baypharm

baypharm

macrumors 68000
Nov 15, 2007
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Bring those jobs back to America, Apple. Put the people to work here who buy your products. We have a saying here, in America we have no art...we do everything as well as we can.
 
Diode

Diode

macrumors 68020
Apr 15, 2004
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KylePowers said:
You'd think with all the innovation that goes into smartphones these days, the manufacturing process could be a tad more automated.

I mean really, why do we still need people assembling these things?

//Yes I understand it's a large resource for employment, but clearly working conditions aren't particularly humane.
Click to expand...

That's largely what we've done with manufacturing in the US and all you hear about is China taking out jobs (IE manufacturing output in the US is at a near all time high but is employing fewer people)....

Anyways I've been suspect that a lot of these supposed scratches were purposely put by employees as a form of protest.
 
M

monaarts

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Jan 16, 2010
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baypharm said:
Bring those jobs back to America, Apple. Put the people to work here who buy your products. We have a saying here, in America we have no art...we do everything as well as we can.
Click to expand...

LOL Maybe 5% of the population lives to that saying... Most of us in America are lazy. I work 60 hours a week for my job and a majority of my friends/family/co-workers start bitching once they hit 30 hours. :mad:
 
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