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coldmountain

(802 posts)

56. Here you go---The Dark Side of the Toyota Prius

Thu Sep 19, 2013, 01:12 AM

Sep 2013

The Dark Side of the Toyota Prius

he National Labor Committee (NLC), a New York-based human rights group, has been investigating working conditions at Toyota Motor Corp., and the labor used to produce its best-selling Prius hybrid cars.

In its 65-page report released in June, NLC includes first-hand testimony of factory conditions in “Toyota City,” outside of Nagoya, Japan – less than 200 miles southwest of Tokyo – where the largest auto company in the world employs some 70,000 people.

The report alleges that Toyota exploits guest workers, mostly shipped in from China and Vietnam. According to the NLC, these workers are “stripped of their passports and often forced to work – including at subcontract plants supplying Toyota – 16 hours a day, seven days a week, while being paid less than half the legal minimum wage.” Workers are forced to live in company dormitories and deported for complaining about poor treatment, the report finds.

nthesetimes.com/article/3796/the_dark_side_of_the_toyota_prius

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Why is there a crusade against Apple products but not foreign cars? [View all] coldmountain Sep 2013 OP

Many "foreign" cars are manufactured on American soil. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #1

This is correct. Travis_0004 Sep 2013 #3

You can buy a UAW car just as easy as a Camry BUT DON"T EVER BITCH ABOUT APPLE coldmountain Sep 2013 #11

Most prominent models by American auto companies are based on foreign designs... Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #19

Here's a survey that accounts for that globalization and JapanInc cars still don't do so well coldmountain Sep 2013 #54

Toyota hires americans Travis_0004 Sep 2013 #113

An American car company would have hired them to build cars if JapanInc wasn't here coldmountain Sep 2013 #115

I don't think so Travis_0004 Sep 2013 #121

The Fusion is selling so well against the Camry it's coming back to Flat Rock Michigan USA coldmountain Sep 2013 #128

my cousin works at Toyota in Kentucky d_r Sep 2013 #66

Many aren't like all the subcompacts listed above and they cost way more jobs than iPhones coldmountain Sep 2013 #6

Honda CR-V, Crosstour, Civic, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, Accord; Acura RDX, ILX, MDX, TL and NSX... Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #9

Over 30% of foreign cars come from outside North America and they cost a lot more than iPhones coldmountain Sep 2013 #13

Let's try to address each issue individually instead of mashing them all together. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #15

"All Infintis are made in Japan". Not true. A HERETIC I AM Sep 2013 #18

Right to work states suck Go Vols Sep 2013 #38

Yes they do. A HERETIC I AM Sep 2013 #48

Protip: Most of the Big Three makes offer hybrids KamaAina Sep 2013 #96

It matters where the profit goes. Barack_America Sep 2013 #7

With the effects of globalism, where the company headquarters exist becomes largely irrelevant. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #10

JUST NOT TRUE! Honda's domestic percentage falls 10%+ when management and design factored in coldmountain Sep 2013 #24

Can you provide some evidence for these claims against Honda? Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #27

Honda ordered to pay out in racism lawsuit coldmountain Sep 2013 #37

It sounds like a poorly managed plant run by racist assholes. Not sure how that condemns Honda... Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #42

American car companies are very diverse! Where's Honda's Welburn, Gilles or women executives? coldmountain Sep 2013 #52

So essentially you're saying having one black guy makes a company diverse. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #55

Detroit's executives are diverse. I just picked out 2 well known African American CEO's coldmountain Sep 2013 #59

It's called selection bias. About 1% of all Fortune 500 CEOs are black. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #60

We weren't discussing Fortune 500 companies, we were discussing domestic automakers. Romulox Sep 2013 #73

Wow. Did you just ask where the "African American" folks are? telclaven Sep 2013 #78

Not a surprise to see you take this line. nt Romulox Sep 2013 #72

Apple's Untaxed Overseas Profits Fuel Calls for Corporate Tax Reform frylock Sep 2013 #92

Because Apple simply sucks. nt darkangel218 Sep 2013 #2

Many reasons but one is that Apple products tend to be more expensive, out of reach of many. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #4

Like a Lexus, Acura, Mercedes, Infiniti, 4runner etc aren't out of the buget ot most Americans? coldmountain Sep 2013 #14

I hate Mercedes and BMWs. Not the point. Apple products are tools to me. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #17

I don't need a luxury car. I do need an iPhone and iPad. I have two disabled family members and both liberal_at_heart Sep 2013 #40

I have yet to meet anyone Go Vols Sep 2013 #43

I could never figure out my RazR, or girlfriend's Samsung, but iPhone is intuitive. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #44

you haven't seen my husband. He is legally blind and he knows his way around that phone. In fact, he liberal_at_heart Sep 2013 #50

Your comment epitomizes the very points that you espouse against non-apple users. defacto7 Sep 2013 #29

I'm glad you're happy... (nt) NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #31

YES!! d_r Sep 2013 #67

Build your own car! You may come up with something exceptional. defacto7 Sep 2013 #88

many "foreign owned company" cars are made in the USA , so buying a foreign owned/usa made JI7 Sep 2013 #5

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE $12 BILLION WORTH OF CARS 100% MADE IN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA? coldmountain Sep 2013 #8

Good post and thanks for the article link Populist_Prole Sep 2013 #21

Japanese won't buy Korean cars but dumbass Americans shoot our economy in the ass with Japanese cars coldmountain Sep 2013 #36

Interesting, but brutally pragmatic action there Populist_Prole Sep 2013 #53

Odd the reliance we humans place on the imaginary. LanternWaste Sep 2013 #102

Buying a "transplant" car doesn't help workers as much as buying union made American car coldmountain Sep 2013 #26

Part of it has to do with the oligopoly that is the telecomm industry BlueStreak Sep 2013 #12

What, you couldn't work The South into this somehow? cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #16

post 11 JI7 Sep 2013 #20

He's gettin' to be a one trick pony. n/t cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #22

We have a Honda civic hybrid, when Detroit was not making them nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #23

I have a Honda Civic Hybrid first generation (2003) defacto7 Sep 2013 #35

Due to the trannie issues nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #46

The Chevy Sonic? You mean the Daewoo...oh, nevermind. flvegan Sep 2013 #25

Shhhh....just...just let it go. Not sure that will have any impact here. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #28

Chevy Sonic is built by the UAW in Orion Michigan coldmountain Sep 2013 #30

The design for the new Sonic is based on collaboration with Fiat and Opel. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #34

All these very small cars are designed abroad but Sonic is the only one built in the USA coldmountain Sep 2013 #39

So you have reneged on your previous comments on foreign design? Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #45

READ IT AND WEEP! Honda FiT is only 1% American Even with Korean design-Sonic 75%! coldmountain Sep 2013 #49

10% less American? MOTHER OF GOD. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #57

I'm for as much American content as is reasonably possible, you're apologist for JapanInc globalism coldmountain Sep 2013 #61

I'm not an apologist. I just support beliefs based on reality. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #62

You are flat wrong. nt Romulox Sep 2013 #75

Prove it. flvegan Sep 2013 #114

Chevy Sonic only subcompact built in the USA with 75% US content vs 1% domestic content for Fit coldmountain Sep 2013 #116

Meanwhile in Japan, Art_from_Ark Sep 2013 #32

I don't think many of the issues people have with Apple hughee99 Sep 2013 #33

bingo. Niceguy1 Sep 2013 #41

i dislike apple because of their shitty, sappy commercials.. frylock Sep 2013 #93

I've not read that foreign cars are made with forced labor madokie Sep 2013 #47

Here you go---The Dark Side of the Toyota Prius coldmountain Sep 2013 #56

Japanese court rules Toyota employee died from too much work coldmountain Sep 2013 #58

That's not because the stories don't exist. You must've missed them. nt Romulox Sep 2013 #74

Partly because Apple acts like a whiny baby when they no longer hold the biggest market share. cui bono Sep 2013 #51

I buy used, when I can afford it, my car was manufactured in California at an UAW shop... Humanist_Activist Sep 2013 #63

Several problems with your suggestion Savannahmann Sep 2013 #64

cars.com is a shill for Toyota and Honda. Other surveys show JapanInc doesn't do as well coldmountain Sep 2013 #81

So you choose to ignore the truth because you don't like the messenger? Savannahmann Sep 2013 #87

AMERICA WAS MUCH BETTER OFF BEFORE WE HAD FOREIGN CARS! How did we survive without Toyota? coldmountain Sep 2013 #89

I didn't even mention the Ranger in my follow up. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #90

The more accurate survey counting all aspects has the top 26 vehicles made by American makes coldmountain Sep 2013 #94

So a group fronted by Chrystler, Ford, and GM say that the Foreign cars built here aren't? Savannahmann Sep 2013 #98

What about the Kogod Business school survey that proves what the US carmakers point out? coldmountain Sep 2013 #100

Perhaps you didn't notice that the second link was to ABC news. Savannahmann Sep 2013 #104

Thanks for just saying it! You're a self centered anti-union globalist saying you're a progressive coldmountain Sep 2013 #105

Amazing. Simply amazing Savannahmann Sep 2013 #109

LOOK AT YOUR OWN LINK! Ram best fullsize truck!Fusion best hybrid! Chevy&Ford 2nd&3rd best compactsO coldmountain Sep 2013 #110

Your link made my point! THERE"S NO REASON BEYOND PREJUDICE TO BUY A JAPANESE CAR ANYMORE! coldmountain Sep 2013 #111

Apple charges 50 bucks for a two-bit VGA adapter ucrdem Sep 2013 #65

You're clearly new here if you think that. (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2013 #68

Maybe the workers committing suicide in Apple factories are the problem. Motown_Johnny Sep 2013 #69

A 'crusade' against something because it's foreign is not something good muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #70

People are hypocrites. I once had DU's leading Teachers' Union advocate tell me, Romulox Sep 2013 #71

I'm sure I'll never see these DUers lamenting the decline of the middle class. Barack_America Sep 2013 #84

Apple is so awesome to work for, HappyMe Sep 2013 #76

silly me i thought it had something to do with sweatshops in china dembotoz Sep 2013 #77

Toyota Prius makes the list of 15 most notorious sweatshops of all time! coldmountain Sep 2013 #83

The Toyota You Don't Know The Race to the Bottom in the Auto Industry coldmountain Sep 2013 #85

First you seem to lump nations into a group 'Asian' as if all Asia is the same. Not keen Bluenorthwest Sep 2013 #79

Ok, Japan and South Korea. Is that better? coldmountain Sep 2013 #80

Not really. And what about the rest of what I posted? Too much for you? Bluenorthwest Sep 2013 #125

I bought an American car the same week my parents bought a foreign car tabbycat31 Sep 2013 #82

I "crusade" against automobiles and Apple. hunter Sep 2013 #86

Why do people hate Microsoft, but own a PC? Rex Sep 2013 #91

A used Apple computer costs more sometimes than a brand new basic PC coldmountain Sep 2013 #95

Because M$ has noting to do with it? I have a house full of "PCs" and not one scrap of M$ Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #131

IBM-PC compatables, you knew what and who I was talking about. Rex Sep 2013 #141

Why only "foreign" cars? JackRiddler Sep 2013 #97

I never heard of a Mazda2 Slave Sweatshop...nt joeybee12 Sep 2013 #99

Disgruntled worker drives over people at Mazda plant in Japan, killing 1 and injuring 10 Read more: coldmountain Sep 2013 #108

Is this another car buyer shaming post? MineralMan Sep 2013 #101

All car dealerships in the USA have American workers even if the car was imported from Mars coldmountain Sep 2013 #107

Thanks. MineralMan Sep 2013 #112

Because Apple is considered a librul company. xfundy Sep 2013 #103

But Toyota also uses "slave" workers to build Priuses coldmountain Sep 2013 #106

Link? Travis_0004 Sep 2013 #122

Good try, but it's an argument I've given up making here. Union Scribe Sep 2013 #117

NOW THAT CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS THE 2014 CHEVY IMPALA IS THE BEST SEDAN THEY EVER TESTED coldmountain Sep 2013 #118

Apple products are made with slave labor AgingAmerican Sep 2013 #119

So is Toyota Prius and a lot of Japanese cars coldmountain Sep 2013 #120

No Japanese cars for me then AgingAmerican Sep 2013 #123

And the foreign cars were, in fact, far better... n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #124

Foreign workers, in general, are better. That's why outsourcing is so profitable. nt Romulox Sep 2013 #126

I don't agree with that. Foreign workers are generally much cheaper, but it is, Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #127

Doing the same work for less pay means better efficiency. It's definitional. Romulox Sep 2013 #129

If they did the same work, that would be a valid point, the truth is however, that they don't. Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #130

That's not for you to judge. The market has decided, and it wants CHEAPER, not "better". Romulox Sep 2013 #133

Some Japanese workers are paid well but contract workers are virtually slaves coldmountain Sep 2013 #134

Prepare for a gazillion excuses sufrommich Sep 2013 #132

I swore off American cars years ago, but my next car will be a Ford. Xithras Sep 2013 #135

Congratulations for buying an actual American car built by the UAW coldmountain Sep 2013 #136

Yep. Xithras Sep 2013 #137

I wonder how many more electric cars we would have if Al Gore was POTUS? coldmountain Sep 2013 #139

I drive American cars. JNelson6563 Sep 2013 #138

Hi Zalatix... Sen. Walter Sobchak Sep 2013 #140