Sacom

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[Petition] Students & Scholars Demand Tim Cook Stop Using Student Workers and Ensure Decent Working Conditions at Apple Suppliers!

When Apple fans become excited by the launch of new Apple products, workers have to toil in the factories day and night to finish production targets because of the influx of orders. Many of them are student workers, 16-18 years old. These students are supposed to be studying in school, but instead they now work 10 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, even taking on night shifts for months at a time like the adult workers. Many student workers report that after repeating the same motion thousands of times a day, they feel like machines. Any mistake, or working slowly, leads to reprimand or punishment. Their lives consist only of waking up, going to work, eating, and sleeping. They have no social life whatsoever. Sometimes, these student workers become so exhausted and depressed that they don’t even want to talk to others. Even worse, they endure hazardous working environments without proper protective equipment. Apple allows their suppliers to hire student workers as “interns.” In reality, students from vocational schools are forced to work at Apple suppliers. This is a form of involuntary labour, which is approved by Apple to produce its products.

The unethical use of student workers is actually a consequence of the deplorable conditions at Foxconn. Many young workers have high aspirations when they arrive at Foxconn but are soon disappointed by the inhumane working conditions in the factory. As a result, the turnover rate in the factory is high. To counter this problem, the factory uses student workers to maintain the stability of the workforce, especially during the peak season.

There is neither a genuine trade union nor any effective communication channel at Foxocnn to handle labour disputes. One worker who produces the iPhone case reports, “I’ve never seen an iPhone. Not to mention having a chance to use one. I’m not proud of producing iPhones at all. All I want to tell the Apple CEO is not to exploit the workers anymore.” The workers at Foxconn have no means to express their grievances to Tim Cook. But we can. Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) calls on students and scholars across the world to sign the petition for decent working conditions at Apple suppliers.

Please sign the petition if you support the cause to demand Apple to:

1. end the use of student workers;

2. provide a living wage for all the workers so they do not have to work excessive overtime hours;

3. conduct labour rights training for workers, including training on occupational health and safety;

4. facilitate the formation of a genuine trade union through democratic election; and

5. compensate the victims if there is non-compliance with the Apple code of conduct.

Full text of the open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook is available here.

Thank you for your support!

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Signatory (as of 29 February 2012)

Adam Zamora, Bowling Green State University (OH) - USA

Agnes Ku, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Hong Kong

Akio Kawamura, Kwansei Gakuin University – Japan

Alan McGaughey, Carnegie Mellon University - USA

Alvin Yiu-Cheong So, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Hong Kong

Amanda Bell, Columbia University in the City of New York – USA

Andrew O’Hara, Glasgow Caledonian University - United Kingdom

Andrew Ross, New York University – USA

Andy Danford, University of the West of England - United Kingdom

Angela Cheung, Duke University – USA

Angela Zito, New York University – USA

Anita Chambers, Fielding Graduate University - USA

Anita Chan, University of Technology, Sydney – Australia

Anita Koo, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Anna Soja, High School nr.2 in Rzeszów – Poland

Arthur Miao, Duke University – USA

Becky Cairati, University of Michigan – USA

Beryl Liu, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Billy Yates, University of Texas - USA

Bingbing Wei, National University of Singapore – Singapore

Bing Chao Zhou, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Bric Daii – China

Boy Lüthje, University of Frankfurt - Germany

Caixia Chu, University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Carlos Marentes, University of Massachusetts Amherst – USA

Casey Sweeney, Cornell University - USA

Charles Umney, University of Greenwich – United Kingdom

Chang-jiang Li, Peking University – China

Chao-ju Chen, National Taiwan University – Taiwan

Chen-Sen Chang, National Tsing Hua University – Taiwan

Cheng Chang, University of Cambridge – United Kingdom

Cheng Shen, Nanjing Normal University – China

Chi Yuen Leung, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

Chin-fen Chang, Academia Sinica – Taiwan

Ching Yee Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Ching Ying Lee, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Chris Tilly, University of California Los Angeles – USA

Cindi Katz, City University of New York - USA

Claudia Bernardi, University of Romatre – Italy

Daisy Chen, Duke University – USA

Damian Cheng, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Dan Wang, University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Daniel Spencer, University of Montana – USA

Desmond Hok-Man Sham, Goldsmiths, University of London - United Kingdom

Douglas Martin, University of Central Lancashire - United Kingdom

Dung-sheng Chen, National Taiwan University – Taiwan

Eileen Boris, University of California Santa Barbara – USA

Elaine Hui, University of Kassel - Germany

Elena Shih, University of California, Los Angeles - USA

Eli Friedman, Cornell University – USA

Ellen David Friedman, Sun Yat-sen University - China

Fai Pang Au, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Fangqin Du, Tianjin Normal University – China

Fei Gao, Duke University – USA

Galit Wernick, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - USA

Hagen Schenk, Passau University – Germany

Hariati Sinaga, University of Kassel – Germany

Hei Fai Chun, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Hongzhe Wang, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Hsiao Yang Hsihe, Université Paris 8 - France

Hsin-Hsing Chen, Shih-Hsin University – Taiwan

Hsiu-hua Shen, National Tsing-Hua University – Taiwan

Hwa-Jen Liu, National Taiwan University – Taiwan

Hua Qi Wang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Huilin Lu, Peking University – China

Hui Po Ai Shan, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Iain Webb, American University of Central Asia, Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan

Ian Cook, Exeter University - United Kingtom

Jack Linchuan Qiu, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Jackie Flynt, University of Colorado Denver – USA

Jason Chan, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

Jay Ting Fung Li, Hong Kong College of Technology – Hong Kong

Jennifer Cohen, University of Massachusetts - USA

Jennifer Jihye Chun, University of British Columbia - Canada

Jenny Sharpe, University of California, Los Angeles - USA

Jenny Wai-Ling Chan, Royal Holloway, University of London – United Kingdom

Jessica Wilczak, University of Toronto – Canada

Jhoni Tuerah, University of Indonesia - Indonesia

Jieh-min Wu, Academia Sinica – Taiwan

John Yip Hon Leung, Hong Kong College Of Technology – Hong Kong

Jon Solomon, Université Jean Moulin – France

Jonah Zinn, University of Wisconsin-Madison - USA

Josephine P. Wong, Ryerson University – Canada

Ju Hui Judy Han, University of British Columbia – Canada

Julia Chuang, University of California, Berkeley – USA

Jurgen Sprik, University of Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Ka Lam Chan, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Ka Long Mak, Communication College of City University – Hong Kong

Ka Ming Wu, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Kate Alexander, University of Canterbury – New Zealand

Kathryn Buchanan, Royal Holloway, University of London – United Kingdom

Katja Winter, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg – Germany

Kaxton Siu, Australian National University – Australia

Ka Yiu Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Kenneth Tsz Fung Ng, Peking University – China

Kenya Williams, Michigan State University – USA

Kim Ming Lee, Community College of City University – Hong Kong

Kıvanç Eliaçık, Dokuz Eylül University – Turkey

Kwan Kit Lam, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Kwun Kit Law, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Kwang-Yeong Shin, Chung-Ang University - South Korea

Kyung-yun Moon, Seoul National University – South Korea

Lee Mackinnon, Goldsmiths, University of London – United Kingdom

Lei Song, Peking University – China

Leigh Campoamor, Duke University – USA

Lena Felde, Leuphana University of Lueneburg – Germany

Li Zhao, Beijing Normal University – China

Lok Hang Lui, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Louise Lamphere, University of New Mexico – USA

Lu Zhang, Temple University – USA

Lulu Fan, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Manfred Elfstrom, Cornell University – USA

Marcos Ancelovici, McGill University - Canada

Margaret Levi, University of Washington, Seattle – USA

Mark Rupert, Syracuse University - USA

Mark Paul, University of Massachusetts – USA

Mark Selden, Cornell University – USA

Mark Silverman, University of Massachusetts Amherst - USA

Marthe Breure, University of Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Michael Burawoy, University of California, Berkeley – USA

Min Sun, Peking University – China

Mirana M. Szeto, University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Mobo Gao, University of Adelaide – Australia

Natasa Boskovic, Simon Fraser University – Canada

Nate Funkhouser, Santa Clara University – USA

Ngai Pun, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Nicolas Lockheimers – USA

Norma Field, University of Chicago – USA

Pa Jiang Zhong, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences - China

Paul Bowles, Northern British Columbia – Canada

Pauline Overeem, Good Electronics – The Netherlands

Paolo Do, Queen Mary University – United Kingdom

Parry Pak-Nang Leung, City University of Hong Kong - Hong Kong

Pei-Chia Lan, National Taiwan University – Taiwan

Peter Evans, University of California, Berkeley - USA

Peter Leykam, University of California Santa Cruz - USA

Peter Scott, University of Portsmouth – United Kingdom

Philip Bedall, Free University Berlin – Germany

Qi Zhang, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – China

Quan Li, Sun Yat-sen University – China

Rachel Taber, University of Washington – USA

Rachel Willcutts, Idea Frontier College Preparatory - USA

Ralph Litzinger, Duke University – USA

Renita Wong, York University – Canada

Restaria F. Hutabarat, Universitas Indonesia - Indonesia

Ren Yan, Sun Yat-sen University – China

Richard Maxwell, Queens College City University of New York - USA

Richard P. Appelbaum University of California, Santa Barbara – USA

Ruth Milkman, City University of New York – USA

Sarinah Lo, Calvin College - USA

Saul Thomas, University of Chicago - USA

Scott Prudham, University of Toronto - Canada

Sebastian Jekutsch, FIfF e.V. – Germany

Shaopeng Song, Renmin University of China – China

Shu Fai Chan, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Soenke Zehle, Academy of Fine Arts Saar – Germany

Sophia So Lok Yee, University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Stephan Ye, Chalmers Tekniska Högskola – Sweden

Stephanie Barrientos, Leuphana University Lüneburg – Germany

Stephanie Luce, City University of New York – USA

Steve McKay, University of California, Santa Cruz - USA

Steve Rabson, Brown University – USA

Steven Li, Duke University – USA

Terasia Bradford, Ohio State University - USA

Terence Chiu Fai Lin, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Thung-hong Lin, Academia Sinica – Taiwan

Tom Butler, University of  Limerick - Ireland

Tom McCallum, University of Toronto - Canada

Tom Young, John Abbott College - Canada

Tsun Long Fan, National Taiwan University – Taiwan

Tsz Yin Chang, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Tze-Ken Yau, City University of Hong Kong - Hong Kong

Valeria Lovato, University of Trieste – Italy

Verity Auden-Stevens, University of Pittsburgh - USA

Veronique Domaratsky, Brooktondale, New York, USA

Victor Koschmann, Cornell University – USA

Violeta Camarasa San Juan, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Wai Yu Wong, Community College of City University – Hong Kong

Wei Ding, Shenzhen University – China

Wei Wang, Columbia University – USA

Weihe Guo, China University of Political Science and Law – China

Wenjuan Jia, Sun Yat-sen University – China

Wendy Yin Yee Tang, City University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Wing Hang Lau, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Xueying Han, University of California, Santa Barbara – USA

Ya Liu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

Ya-hwei Hsu, National Taiwan University - Taiwan

Yan Hairong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

Yan Ting Luk, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Yi Xu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

Ying Chen, University of Massachusetts Amherst – USA

Ying Sum Chan, University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Yiu Kai Terence Yuen, Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Yiu Keung Tong, Lingnan University – Hong Kong

Yiu Kwong Chong, Hong Kong Institute of Education - Hong Kong

You Yenn Teo, Nanyang Technological University – Singapore

Yu Huang, University of Washington, Seattle – USA

Yuan Shen, Tsinghua University – China

Yuchen Han, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Yuhua Guo, Tsinghua University – China

Yun-Chung Chen, Baptist University of Hong Kong - Hong Kong

Yun Xue Deng, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Zhaofan Guo, Tsinghua University – China

Zhongjin Li, University of Massachusetts Amherst – USA

Zicun Liang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong

Ziyuan Wang, London School of Economics – United Kingdom

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