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Apple Grants ABC's 'Nightline' Access to Foxconn Factories in China
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No, what it means is you have no idea how Foxconn works.
Due to the fact that all of their customers have trade secrets they keep from one another, each customer has dedicated facilities in Foxconn that are off limits to everyone not working specifically on Apple products.
Apple must approve for anyone to get access who is not specifically assigned to the Apple facility within Foxconn.
The same thing is true for every other virtual factory within Foxconn.
flame me all you want, and even though foxconn make other products, this is a shame. Yes, there are other companies that do this, but this is still a shame. It's also partly the fault of the Chinese government as they don't allow trade unions to be set up by workers. But it also means that the workers should get some decency.
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Most people don't see it that way I think. I do.
Assuming child labor isn't used and breaks are given.
I'd like to suspend my cynicism for a moment and hope that Nightline does some honest reportage.
It is a risk for Apple. I want to believe this is a positive sign about Tim Cook's influence on the company.
Of course, if the report is less than damning, the response from many will be..."It's just a cover up". I assume that whatever the report says, there will be many finding ways to discount it.
I guess I'm willing to give Nightline the benefit of the doubt, no matter how the report comes out.
It is a risk for Apple. I want to believe this is a positive sign about Tim Cook's influence on the company.
Of course, if the report is less than damning, the response from many will be..."It's just a cover up". I assume that whatever the report says, there will be many finding ways to discount it.
I guess I'm willing to give Nightline the benefit of the doubt, no matter how the report comes out.
Communism. Capitalism for even less people with an opiate to keep them quiet.
Unreported!? Then how do you know about it? The fact is, it was reported in most publications I look at, but it was just as quickly forgotten
Weren't the figures like $50 more to have apple products made in the states?
I'd gladly pay that.
I'd gladly pay that.
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Interesting move by Apple. I'm sure they know what they are doing.
And for those who say its Cooks fault and not Jobs' because he setup the supply chain - are you on glue? The most particular and controlling guy in the world, a guy who even had a say on cafeteria food, had no idea about the production and supply chain and now it's Cooks fault and not Steve's also?
Interesting move by Apple. I'm sure they know what they are doing.
And for those who say its Cooks fault and not Jobs' because he setup the supply chain - are you on glue? The most particular and controlling guy in the world, a guy who even had a say on cafeteria food, had no idea about the production and supply chain and now it's Cooks fault and not Steve's also?
The assumption seems to be this report will show Apple in a bad light, this may not be the case.
They disregard that Foxconn had to grant access as well. But consider, Foxconn feels they have nothing to hide so of course they would give that access. The only thing stopping them would be their contract with Apple and the conditions of privacy.
So Apple would have to approve the access which they would only do if they could trust the party in question not to ask questions regarding the product being worked on. As in, it's obvious someone is working on the iPad, but asking "is that the new iPad 3?" or "so tell us about the exact parts you are putting together there" would be out of order. If Apple felt the requesting party wouldn't violate those conditions they would tell Foxconn it was okay with them to let that party into the factory if Foxconn wished. And Apple might encourage Foxconn to wish to let them in.
So in that sense, yes Apple 'granted' the access.
As COO, Cook was the logistics guy so if anyone orchestrated anything in this particular matter it was actually Cook. So he's taking the heat for his own doing.
Again, doesn't have to be. If Apple had anything to hide they would have told Foxconn that allowing the reporters in would be a violating of the secrecy rules of the contract. So there would be no report.
That said, I want to see this same reporter going into factories putting together stuff for the other 70 clients of Foxconn. Calling each one out by name and calling out the suicide protests etc from each of those groups as well. Lets talk some real facts like how there have been something like 20 suicides and attempts over the past 2-3 years on any line, only maybe 10 of which have been firmly tied to Apple production but none of which were tied to the actual working conditions. But January's Xbox protest was a good 100 workers who said they would jump together if conditions in their factory were not improved.
Stress over making money for the family back home is reported to be a key factor in the various non XBox attempts particularly when Foxconn was giving death benefits for suicides. They stopped that and the attempts dropped off. It seems like the leaks out of Foxconn have gone up so perhaps that is the new way to make money for the parents. Who knows.
Under the terms of their manufacturing contract, Foxconn CANNOT grant access to ANYONE other than assigned employees into the Apple facilities. Foxconn employees have special badges and have to scan in and out.
They take the security of their customers very seriously.
The same is true for the three dozen or so other virtual factories at Foxconn.
Apple HAD to grant access for ABC to get in. Period.
They take the security of their customers very seriously.
The same is true for the three dozen or so other virtual factories at Foxconn.
Apple HAD to grant access for ABC to get in. Period.
Also sure.
But the comments were implying that Steve set it up all by himself behind everyone else's backs and then kicked the bucket and left the rest of the team to take the fall.
Which isn't true. Cook, if not others, had a hand in setting this up so if there is a fall to take they are taking it over their participation. They are not just Steve's patsies
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We don't KNOW that at all. The NYT wants us to believe that they were shunned over what they said. But in fact one of their own says he did get a copy of the materials so that calls the claim into question.
It may not have been the NYT that was shunned by rather that particular reporter because Apple has every right not to give their materials to someone they feel is determined to write a biased hacker job about them.
And given the number of facts left out of the stories (like Apple isn't Foxconn's only client and there have been far bigger protests at other ones), Apple has reason to be cautious
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The press will always spin things against the big money makers so the issue would still have happened.
As for the last comment, you presume Apple is guilty or even in a position to do anything about the working of a private company in another country. You are accepting the slanted claims of places like NYT and in your mind Apple is 100% at fault and any story that says otherwise must be spin. You might as well throw away your iPad etc in protest. The question remains however will you throw away your XBox etc as well because they are made by Foxconn. or will you ignore that fact like you are ignoring that perhaps Apple's lines and workers are being treated as fairly as they can be under the applicable Chinese laws
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No, it shows that Foxconn had to agree not to let just anyone into the factories to see information Apple didn't want leaked out. But Apple has told them that these people are okay and letting them in won't break the contract. That is all.
Chinese Problem - Not Apple
It seems the media is forgetting Foxconn is a Sub-Contractor of Apple in a State run Communist Country that is producing products for many US companies not just Apple. It's terribly unfortunate that working conditions and pay in China are unfair, but ANY corporation that wants to remain competitive is going to have their products produced in the most cost effective manor because shareholders demand profits and americans want everything cheap.
They could never produce these products cost effectively in the the USA in this day and age because of just the opposite; Our working condition standards are much higher, and frankly many in our entitled/spoiled society would rather live off the government than work for $10 or less an hour.
I commend Apple for taking the lead on improving these working conditions even though most of these issues were not created by Apple and are out of their control.
This is a Communist Chinese problem, not an Apple problem.
Just my 2 cents.
It seems the media is forgetting Foxconn is a Sub-Contractor of Apple in a State run Communist Country that is producing products for many US companies not just Apple. It's terribly unfortunate that working conditions and pay in China are unfair, but ANY corporation that wants to remain competitive is going to have their products produced in the most cost effective manor because shareholders demand profits and americans want everything cheap.
They could never produce these products cost effectively in the the USA in this day and age because of just the opposite; Our working condition standards are much higher, and frankly many in our entitled/spoiled society would rather live off the government than work for $10 or less an hour.
I commend Apple for taking the lead on improving these working conditions even though most of these issues were not created by Apple and are out of their control.
This is a Communist Chinese problem, not an Apple problem.
Just my 2 cents.
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If you think this is an Apple-specific problem and that it hasn't been going on since the 1st generation iPhone (probably way before) then I have some swamp land in Florida I'd like to sell you. Cheap labor in China is what makes this world go 'round. I'm not saying that it's right, in fact it's terribly disturbing, I'm just saying it's the reality. It's comical to me that now all of the sudden everyone has grown a conscience. Now everyone wants an "ethical" iPhone. So it was cool for the first 5 generations? Give me a break, if now you're self-righteous about how all your products are made then you should probably boycott...everything. I'm all for change and better conditions for these workers; they are the ones who push progress and make unbelievable products. But don't act like you're better than everyone else because you picketed or signed a petition while you have owned every iPhone and iPad since their introduction. That's a joke.
If you think this is an Apple-specific problem and that it hasn't been going on since the 1st generation iPhone (probably way before) then I have some swamp land in Florida I'd like to sell you. Cheap labor in China is what makes this world go 'round. I'm not saying that it's right, in fact it's terribly disturbing, I'm just saying it's the reality. It's comical to me that now all of the sudden everyone has grown a conscience. Now everyone wants an "ethical" iPhone. So it was cool for the first 5 generations? Give me a break, if now you're self-righteous about how all your products are made then you should probably boycott...everything. I'm all for change and better conditions for these workers; they are the ones who push progress and make unbelievable products. But don't act like you're better than everyone else because you picketed or signed a petition while you have owned every iPhone and iPad since their introduction. That's a joke.
Here's the scenario as I understand it.
Backing up for a moment, let me be clear I've been an Apple enthusiast & extremely loyal, happy customer since the first PowerBook 100 series debuted in 1991. So the only point being, I'm not bashing Apple. Just sharing my experience & perspective as someone who knows their Apple history well. I will only post my honest opinion (good or bad) depending on the topic.
To the point, it was Tim Cook under Steve Jobs direction that took them to China. A move I don't necessarily fault them for at the time, since everything they needed to fill demand for Apple products is there. It's also important to remember this was before they had the massive cash reserves of today.
Fast forward to the present. It's public record although rarely reported that after Cook had everything in place at Foxconn, Jobs flew over, had a sit down meeting & told Foxconn that he expected a 10% reduction in his costs each year if Foxconn wanted to keep Apple as a customer. This in addition the the incredibly low labor rate Jobs had already negotiated.
This is why I hold Apple accountable for SOME not All of the atrocities at Foxconn.
Finally, there's no better time than now, and no better man than Tim Cook to correct the issues & lead Apple forward. I have nothing but the highest regard for Tim Cook
You bring up any interesting point. Welfare can be more "profitable" which is why the government keeps talking about reforming it.
How about this reform. You can't get payouts unless you can prove that you are incapable of having any job of any kind, or you have a job or are at least actively looking for one. Most if not all states do this with unemployment benefits, why not all benefits.
Figures. The media/government tools can't stand big profits (I love my APPL - I'm rich and happily greedy MUWHAHAHA) Had Apple been making slim profits, this wouldn't be happening. Are people jealous?
I say Apple builds a huge factor here in America, builds an iPhone, sells it for double or triple the price and also sell one made in China for much less. That way, those that are outraged over this issue can happily pay double or triple the price for an iPhone. I'm sure they would. Right?
I say Apple builds a huge factor here in America, builds an iPhone, sells it for double or triple the price and also sell one made in China for much less. That way, those that are outraged over this issue can happily pay double or triple the price for an iPhone. I'm sure they would. Right?
In a country where that hours cost of living is only 1/10th of 1 cent that's not a bad amount to paid. Remember Foxconn's employees have no rent, utilities etc to pay because it's part of the job. THey also have reduced clothing costs because they wear a uniform and reduced food costs because they are fed by the company