Monday, September 24, 2012

Violent Unrest Rocks Chinese iPhone Factory-Apple contractor reacts

Eyewitness photos reviewed by this blog show that a violent incident took place Sunday night and early Monday morning at a Foxconn plant in Northern China that makes the back casing of Apple's iPhone 5.The photos were posted to the Internet and depict a disturbing scene.Windows of a factory building were smashed.A gatehouse was overturned and the iron gate was smashed.A vehicle's windshield was busted.Helmeted riot police faced off with a large crowd of workers.The long line of riot police was supplemented by security personnel in camouflage fatigues.Hundreds of male workers milled about in a courtyard or parking lot outside the plant.
Apple contractor Foxconn said the incident began at its Taiyuan factory dormitory over a worker fight.A source with knowledge of the situation,however,pointed out that the ruckus actually began when security guards beat a worker up.The undercover source revealed that the factory is known for its harsh management and practically compulsory overtime work.
The riot erupted when about 2,000 workers protested security guards striking a worker at 10 pm local time.At the factory,there has been an unprecedented ramping up of  Apple iPhone 5 production.Foxconn said it is still investigating the incident.Spokesman Louis Woo said our decision is to take a day off for that particular plant today.There had been previous trouble at the Taiyuan factory.
Apple declined to comment on the story,The Wall Street Journal reported.
Apple Computer(AAPL)

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