Now, here's an interesting piece of news, especially considering the factory where the protesters work. Approximately 2,000 out of 10,000 workers at the Wintek branch in East China are starting to strike over the rumor about their bonuses being canceled, as well as the use of dangerous substances in the production of screens, and not just any screens, but the ones used by Apple, Nokia and others. That really makes me wonder what are the others that the news story didn't mention or didn't find out info on.

Questionable is how this protest will affect the production of both the factory and other manufacturers that get their components from Wintek. Surprisingly, the company claims that it does no longer use n-hexane, which is a banned substance that workers stated caused death and paralysis of employees. Also, company officials claim there will be no bonuses cut off the plan after all, but from what it looks, the workers don't buy it, as the strike looks severe, to say the least.

The only thing I can think about is that probably the workers know a little more than what the press does. Hopefully, both sides, the workers and the company, will settle business, so that the production gets back on track. Otherwise, I suppose there will be some drawbacks in some products on their way to the market.

All in all, the situation should draw some questions to manufacturers relying on Chinese factories for building components, first of all because things like this can happen, and second, that they're actually exploiting people for getting lower prices, because we all know that managers and such high ranged people don't care about working conditions.

It feels quite bad using a smartphone or any other device, when thinking that the people who made the components for it are paid maybe three or four times less that the gadget, per month. Maybe I’m exaggerating, maybe I’m being too optimistic.


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