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China Orders iPod Factory to Unionize

Friday, September 1st, 2006 at 8:20 AM - by

Hongfujin Precision Industry Co., the division of Foxconn that operates the Longhua factory that manufactures iPods for Apple Computer, has been ordered by the Chinese government to allow its employees to form a trade union. According to Forbes, the union will be affiliated with the government's All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

The Longhua factory has been the focus of news reports claiming employees are subjected to substandard working conditions. Apple conducted its own investigation and found some workplace conditions violated the code of ethics it requires subcontractors to follow, including limiting the maximum number of hours in a work week.

Foxconn sued the China Business News reporter and editor that initially covered the story. It has since backed off on the 30 million yuan in damages it was asking for, and is now asking for only 1 yuan. The journalists' personal assets, however, still remain frozen.

In recent years, China has been pressuring companies with foreign investors to allow government-sponsored unions for employees.

There is no word yet on when the division of Foxconn will officially form its union.

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Tiger said:

member since 17 Jun 2003 with 1018 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:35 am

Because government forced unions are ethical and treat their employees fairly?

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JimWCB said:

member since 29 Aug 2002 with 301 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:48 am

Tiger wrote:
Because government forced unions are ethical and treat their employees fairly?

Yeah, that was my first thought... China's governement has a pretty bad record of caring for their citizens.

Of course, so does the US government sometimes...

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Biff said:

member since 08 Apr 2004 with 1479 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:25 am

I offically declare JimWCB winner of the "Stupidest Post of the Week" award.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 1002 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:17 pm

Lighten up Biff. Think Hurricane Katrina. There was no relief for anyone until Sean Penn showed up with his dinghy and his film crew.

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Edison Carter said:

member since 10 Aug 2006 with 228 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 4:10 pm

Bosco wrote:
Lighten up Biff. Think Hurricane Katrina. There was no relief for anyone until Sean Penn showed up with his dinghy and his film crew.

There is hope for the world, here I am agreeing with Bosco.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 1002 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:17 pm

I doubt it. I was agreeing with Biff.

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