iPad 3 Release Sparks Protest Against Apple's Manufacturers
The release of Apple's highly anticipated third generation iPad will take place Friday, but not everyone is celebrating the company's ability to meet such high demand for its products.
Some have criticized that the hasty production of iPads and iPhones comes at a price, and that is the well-being of workers on Apple's production lines who are employed for companies such as Foxconn.
The employees are frequently compensated relatively low, and work long intensive hours with no overtime pay.
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Mark Shields of Change.org, an organization focused on implementing positive social change, recently created an online campaign to influence Apple in creating higher standards for those workers. Shields and the organization have also planned something special for the new iPad launch.
A group of protesters will organize outside Apple's Georgetown retail location on Friday to further the cause.
"Demonstrators will demand Apple create a worker protection strategy to prevent workplace abuse, injury, and death, including how to keep workers safe during labor-intensive releases of new products like the iPad 3," wrote Change.org in a press release.
Although Apple has begun to hear the concerns of organizations such as Change.org and even started implementing some positive changes, the company still has a long way to go, according to Mark Shields.
"It's great to see Apple taking important steps like the factory audit this month, and pay raises for the factory workers," said Shields. "But Apple hasn't crossed the finish line yet."
"New product releases, like the iPad 3 this week, have typically been the most dangerous for workers because of the incredible pressure they are under to meet release production deadlines," he added.
Change.org has created a petition that was signed by 250,000 people that specifically asks Apple to release a strategy for protecting their workers during new product launches.
Shield's hope is to persuade Apple to use its trademark creativity to help improve conditions for its workers on the production line.
