Condemn Apple and Wintek Corporation for Disregarding Corporate Social Responsibility and Workers’ Appeals

23/5/2009

Contact：Secretary General of NAFITU, Chu Wei-Li 0981-238732；E-mail：wei-li-1210@yahoo.com.tw

English Contact：Torrent torrent.org@gmail.com

Fax：02-22721473

The Wintek Corporation’s violation of laws and exploitation of workers in Taiwan and mainland China have aroused anger among workers, environmental and social movement organizations around the world. Because of Wintek’s refusal to restore all the jobs to the employees in Taiwan and mainland China and improve the working conditions, around one hundred people, including the Wintek Workers Self-help Group and local labor movement organizations in Taiwan, gathered in front of Apple — of whom Wintek is a major supplier — on 21 May 2009, revealing all the relevant information, asking Apple to comply with its own Supplier Code of Conduct and demand Wintek to negotiate with its employees.

We had informed the management of Apple about this action several days beforehand, but Apple showed arrogance and sent no representatives to receive our public letter and relevant information. It even lied through the police’s teeth that there were nobody working that day. It is hard to believe that such a giant transnational corporation would lie and shirk responsibility in the face of labor organizations.

Apple, a leading brand in technology application, reports 15% profit growth in its first quarter of 2009. It is indisputable that Apple has to take its corporate social responsibility seriously. Therefore we ask Apple to respond publicly to our appeal by 31 May, to demand that Wintek stop exploiting workers in Taiwan and mainland China. Otherwise we will appeal to global workers and consumers to condemn corporations and stop buying sweatshop products.

Besides, as a member of Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), Apple has been retreating from its promised social responsibility. Therefore we also ask the EICC to investigate into the conduct of Apple.

Wintek issued a press release on 21 May, stating that “it has dealt with this labor issue in accordance with the law, having agreed to restore jobs to those laid-off workers under certain conditions (e.g. pregnant women and veteran workers). It accuses labor organizations of violating the agreement and instigating some laid-off workers to demand unlawful benefits.” But paying the 6,000 NT dollars fine does not make Wintek’s measures legal. In fact, at the conciliation meeting with workers in the Taichung factory, Wintek only agreed to restore jobs to some 20 workers, who were asked to repay the redundancy payment and were denied their salary during unemployment. The workers could not but accept. Except for the Taichung factory, Wintek has not responded to the factories in Yangmei and mainland China. More importantly, the working conditions have continued to deteriorate, with overtime unpaid, wage cuts, and statutory holidays cancelled. We are further informed on 20th May that subsidies and awards are not paid, and food problems are getting serious in mainland China factories. Wintek’s refusal to take seriously workers’ rights and appeals will surely lead to more intense resistance, and the labor organizations have taken legal actions and gained wide support.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Wintek workers have lost their jobs for six months and have to borrow money to make ends meet. We are grieved and vexed at the abominable conduct of Wintek and Apple, and deeply moved by workers showing solidarity and struggling for justice.

Major clients of Wintek, including NOKIA, Motorola, Samsung and HTC, should also take the responsibility of urging Wintek to resolve this labor rights issue; otherwise they may also become targets of public protest.

Initiating Organizations:

Taiwan: National Federation of Independent Trade Unions, WINTEK bargaining team, Solidarity Union, Youth labor union 95, Taiwan Labor Information & Education Association, Confederation of Trade Union in Taipei City, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Tainan County and Kaohsiung County.

Hong Kong: Globalization Monitor, SACOM, HKCTU, Labour Action China

Mainland China: China Worker Studies

Japan: Asian Pacific Workers Solidarity Links