The New York Times showed the sobering account of conditions at Apple’s contract factories in China. Essentially, the manufacture of those sleek and sexy devices that consumers love so much has been accompanied by 23 deaths and 273 injuries. In a horrific account of one of the deaths, the Times told of Lai Xiadong, who was severely burned in an explosion and died of his injuries two days later.
Apple executives expressed care and concern about workers in its supply chain.Some of the Consumers also expressed horror that their cherished devices were the product of such misery. Labor activists took advantage of the issue to spotlight global working conditions in emerging nations. Naturally, talk of a boycott also emerged, fueled by editorials and opinion columns in leading publications.
Should Apple Be Nervous?
The question is, will a boycott catch on? Does Apple have anything to seriously worry about? On one hand, it does. The company is sitting on a wealth of cash- US$97.6 billion, or enough to make Greece’s debt payments over the next two years. Surely, it would seem, Apple can afford to treat its workers a little better.But On the other hand, as Apple devotees are quick to say, why should the company be singled out? Most of the major mobile device makers rely on Foxconn and other China-based companies for their manufacturing.
Perhaps one reason the spotlight is on Apple is the way it has positioned itself, suggested Paul Levinson, professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University , as a company that is “out to make money, sure, but in a way that enhances human beings, doesn’t take advantage of or degrade people.” In this sense, Apple has been a leading “post capitalist” company. “That’s why the equivalent of a sweat shop in China should be unacceptable to Apple.” Apple could conceivably do something about it, Levinson continued especially if a boycott did take off.”The one factor that might prevent change is the unpredictable position of the Chinese government, which has shown that it doesn’t like to take marching orders from American corporations,” he added.
