Apple rotten to the core?

The evidence of poor and inhumane working conditions along with child labor that Mr. Mike Daisey shared on the broadcast show, “This American Life,” is unsettling and disturbing. I find myself conflicted as I write this response. As each word is typed on my MacBook Pro I ponder about the person who has put the pieces to this wonderful machine together. The sweat and the possible blood that was shed to make this equipment is a justifiable cause of throwing my laptop against the wall. I however, do find myself, thankfully, kept in check from completely throwing my MacBook Pro.

I know that without these jobs, that life would be just as hard if not harder for the people of Shenzhen.  Furthermore, even in our great history of American progress, we too had to fight for right to unionize and to fight for the better working conditions that we have today. It was the price of our forefather’s blood that allows us to enjoy the forty hour workweeks, the paid holidays, and not to mention benefits that include healthcare (with a lot of companies and government employers), and retirement.

            I believe firmly with increased pressure from the workers of these cities of mass industrialization, that the companies that profit from the sweat and blood of these people will be forced into a corner to obey their demands. It would also be interesting to witness a more increased effort from the giant companies that buy the manufacturing power from the companies like FoxConn. How much muscle do we as consumers really have? If consumers start sending messages to the to companies such as Apple, Dell, HP, etc, etc, how would they have to react in response? Those companies are directly linked to the consumer’s happiness, thus if the consumer is unhappy the company is unhappy, and finally the manufacturer is unhappy because they will be potentially losing their business.

             That also raises questions to the consumer, are we content that we are able to buy these products at a cheaper rate at the cost of these workers? It was also evident in the broadcast, that people in Shenzhen were already moving to come together and make a stand. It was also fascinating to think that the numbers of workers employed by Foxconn is almost equal to the entire population of Alaska! However, it was also noteworthy to think that unionizing outside of Chinese Government’s own union is highly illegal and punishable.

Apple has stated that their audits have found child laborers and have claimed that they stopped buying from those manufacturing companies and that they are actively concerned about the issues at hand. It is curious to think though, that with the described working conditions in this broadcast program, how hard are the company’s auditors really looking?  It is astonishing to think the companies that seek business with FoxConn and the like are convinced that the profit is well worth the cost of those poor and hazardous conditions. It’s harder to grasp which is worse, the thought that these company auditors have seen the living conditions in the cement dorms described by Mike Daisey, or perhaps they haven’t seen them. To which my response to both of these scenarios is that Apple and the like are full of ignorant bliss.  Are workers not worth a small portion of the profit to make living quarters decent enough to for a human being to live in?

I understand the progress of working conditions is much needed by the people of these industrialized countries. I understand they are linked to my everyday consumption and use of electronic goods and other products. I also know that without these jobs that they could and most likely would be in a worse position. I hope that we can trust Apple and other such companies are not rotten to the core and that they continue to push manufactures kings and tycoons such as Foxconn to better the working conditions for such honorable people that bring me my iphone, MacBook Pro and other great products.