FEB 11, 2012 – Activists who own and use Apple products alarmed by the horrible working conditions in China where all the devices are manufactured, delivered a petition to Apple calling for labor reforms. Reports of cramped dormitories, forced labor, severe carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe stress on the workers who have no labor law protections whatsoever. Many workers, especially at a large manufacturer Foxconn, have even committed suicide. CIO has a article detailing the working conditions in an article here.
Activist Mark Shields who started the petition on Change.org told reporters outside Apple's New York offices, "Apple's a leader in the world. They've set themselves apart from other companies and other industries. And they've changed how we listen to music and how we see movies and use technology. I believe that they have the creativity and the capital to make a change and stop this terrible suffering."
He and others are part of a movement to try and better the working conditions for workers overseas and other issues called SumOfUs.org, on their website they say that "SumOfUs is a movement of consumers, workers and shareholders speaking with one voice to counterbalance the growing power of large corporations. Join us on our journey as we seek to make the world a better place for ourselves, our children and all who share our planet." Check out the SumOfUs.org website here.
