The folks who make your Hasbro Toys

[starsky]

not surprised at all of the inhumane working conditions. unfortunately, corporations are not going to bring their production back to america simply because it affects earnings of their stockholders and their corporate brass.

[Sandman9580]

Bring manufacturing back to the USA, hire American workers, and make the workers stock owning partners of the executives. THAT is how we could revitalize the economy and the country. Anything else just seems like so much schwarbage.

I agree with the sentiment, but it's hard to be optimistic. Back in the "good old days" of American manufacturing there were fewer goods and fewer foreign imports and "race to the bottom" competition. And things like subsidized oil and agriculture, and huge corporations dictating the price they'll pay to their suppliers, have had the effect of resetting what we think a "normal" price should be.

And few, if any, Americans would work for pennies for piece work (as a so-called independent contractor). That's about the only viable option allowed to a company under American employment law, because if the company hires them as an hourly wage earner, they have too much responsibility to the employee -- not least of which are the state minimum wage and overtime laws that make the entire point moot.

I think the recent immigration law in Alabama serves as a good analogy. What ended up happening is migrant workers (even legal ones) fled the state, leaving mountains of work available to unemployed Alabamians. That was the intention, more or less. The problem was, Alabamians weren't interested. And the few who did come out to work decided that taking home 40-60 bucks after 12 hours of extremely hard labor in the tomato field just wasn't worth it -- let alone a viable career option. The farmers can't pay more than that; the market simply won't allow it. (Last I heard, Alabama was seriously rethinking their legislation.)

As for stock options and employee-owned companies, I think the argument against it goes something like, "he who puts up the capital should earn all the rewards. Executive stock options are an incentive to become an executive. If the employees disagree, they're free to seek employment elsewhere." Investors aren't fond of their "share" being diluted. And Washington lawmakers aren't fond of upsetting investors...

*One final thought -- a few months ago I read an article about Costco, a financially sound, well-run company that has a legacy of humane, decent management and is known for treating their workers well. You'd think it would be a good company to invest in, right? Well, among serious investors they're considered something of a joke. I read a quote from one who said something like "It's actually better to be a customer at Costco than an investor." Yeah, the horror.

[clemso]

If American workers made made hasbro figures, then they would probably cost 10 times as much, once you factor in the wage bill.

[enyawd72]

If American workers made made hasbro figures, then they would probably cost 10 times as much, once you factor in the wage bill.

They would, but they shouldn't. American workers made products for years and the companies that produced those products made profits, but they got greedy. They shipped the jobs overseas and lowered their costs, but didn't pass the savings onto us. Why should they? More profits for them. They're just now figuring out that if no one in this country is gainfully employed, who's gonna buy whatever they're selling?

That's what irks me about American big business. They always want YOU to do with less, but they aren't willing to. We've become a nation of the working poor. Part-time low paying service or retail jobs with little or no benefits. Welcome to the new America.

[Figuremod73]

I know the last few years has been especially rough but what can we do? I try to be optimistic even if its rough sometimes. Hopefully someone important will see whats going on and do something about it.

[MIB41]

Considering these same factories have no problem pulling a screw on their clients, namely Castaway and Zica, is this news really all that surprising? While Hasbro will need to address this media PR nightmare, there is really little they can do to control what is not within their jurisdiction to enforce. Overseas factories will "appear" to respond if outside pressure impacts their business, but ultimately the local government must enforce the standard. If that is not present, then there is little anyone on this side of the pond can do.

[CrimsonGhost]

As if Hasbro is the only company that uses overseas workers.

[sauce]

I read a lot of stuff so I am not surprised. It just continues to suck in many ways. But we must have the information.
Direct link to the Transformers Jet Fair report:
http://www.globallabourrights.org/ad...-by-Hasbro.pdf

[Gorn Captain]

Ethically, we should never buy any product from China. Toys, clothes, electronics.
They are all built in a system of "(nearly) slave labor".
Problem is, everybody in the whole world buys from China, and we don't want to go without our "stuff".
Same thing with eating meat: once you've been inside a slaughterhouse, you'll probably lose all taste for meat.
In this respect, most of us, including myself, are hypocrits...

[jds1911a1]

Yup Gee, 14 million Americans out of work.......wouldn't hurt to bring these jobs back here to get Americans Back to work........

There are lots of jobs here that alot of people don't want for the pay if there weren't then there wouldn't be illegal immegration

[Spyweb007]

While it seems impossible to be compete with the low wages overseas, I would think that American factories would be more modern, more efficient and rely on fewer workers than what they have overseas, and that combined with the cost of shipping and fuel it might be possible to produce goods here and still be profitable. I only wish some company would take the chance and pave the way. I actually heard rumors that Hasbro was considering this avenue a few years back, although I think it was just a rumor.

[MIB41]

In this respect, most of us, including myself, are hypocrites...

I can't agree. Out sourcing is a basic part of ALL industries. Even your health insurance companies are sending processes to third world countries to eliminate administrative costs. So to suggest that the consumer is a hypocrite for what is essentially a competitive tool in the business sector is unfounded. This factory made a bid for Hasbro's business and Hasbro took the offer. The owners of that factory are liable for what happens inside it's own walls.

[jwyblejr]

I have no idea why people are surprised by this. It's been going on for how long now? It's not really something new, sadly.

[Gorn Captain]

I can't agree. Out sourcing is a basic part of ALL industries. Even your health insurance companies are sending processes to third world countries to eliminate administrative costs. So to suggest that the consumer is a hypocrite for what is essentially a competitive tool in the business sector is unfounded. This factory made a bid for Hasbro's business and Hasbro took the offer. The owners of that factory are liable for what happens inside it's own walls.

I can't agree.
Thing is: we know that this kind of slave labor is happening. If we enter an agreement with a factory, knowing what happens within the walls, we agree to that policy.
Let's say you're the boss of a company. The floor manager is a brute. You know the floor manager is a brute. That makes you responsible as well. You can say: I won't work with a man like that. He treats the workers badly.

But to take that step, a huge step, we would have to completely revise our whole economy. We would have to pay more, but the work might be more ethical.

[ctc]

>You can say: I won't work with a man like that. He treats the workers badly.

....and then you get fired by the higher-ups.

>we would have to completely revise our whole economy.

THAT'S the porblem: we're ALL part of the system; a system that's been in development for hundreds of years. Changing something like this would have huge ramifications, many of which would be outrigt impossible for us to comply with. Even smaller changes are tough for the folks at the base of the pyramid. (So to speak.) "Buy local" is a great idea, provided stuff you want is available locally. And even when it is:

>We would have to pay more, but the work might be more ethical.

....we're programmed to seek out bargains. Paying more goes against the grain for the majority of folks; look how eagerly we all await sales like "Black Friday." How much prep we put into it, how we'll suffer though insane circumstances (like a bit of the ol' pepperspray) to save a buck. It's hardwired in.

Bigger companies can afford overseas production, and can deal in volume; so it's impossible for smaller outfits to compete. The bigger the company, the bigger the advantage. Adding to the problem: the bigger the company, the further removed from it's operation the decision-makers become. Once that happens, people become stats: the producers, the customers.... all numbers. So to get any kind of reaction from the company, you'd need to get a LOT of those numbers in line.... tough to do. In a case like the one brought up here, you'd likely get resistance from the very folks you want to help: the people trapped working in the factories. Pennies a day may be slave wages, but it's pennies more than they were getting before. That's why they put up with this, they HAVE to. If they get too upity, the factory moves elsewhere. It's another numbers thng; you're not gonna get EVERYONE to rise up and demand more.... someone SOMEWHERE is desperate enough that slave work seems like a godsend.

But despite that, it is an issue that warrants consideration. I just don't have any workable solutions.

Don C.