Pretty unpleasant look at Cort factories

Jack-Flash-Jr · 2011-08-05T12:30:29+00:00

Just to add to the list of manufacturers that could treat their workers better:

V8

chris77 wrote The video is about as balanced as the Elvis diet.

It's not a humourous topic, but that is a damn funny comment!

I'm really glad someone posted something about the conditions that us as consumers can be aware of. We now have the oppourunity to go do our own research (short of visiting Korea and the factory, of course) and make as informed a decision as we can.

We can sign petitions, but ultimately we vote with our wallets? Yes, unfair labour practices do affect my buying patterns, no more Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, etc...But prefer First Ascent and Cape Storm (Mostly local manufacturing, mostly imported fabrics), slightly more 'responsible', but still there a question of where the fabric comes from and the conditions involved...heish.

And don't get me started about all the silliness on reducing the "carbon footprint". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing)

Myron

chris77

Googled the topic a bit last night, looking for a few different opinions. Overall it doesn't reflect well on Cor-tek hey.
Suprisingly they seem to be pretty quiet on a subject that can sink their business.

ZarK

Poof... There goes the second-hand value of my Corts.... :'( ?

Mr-M

I've known about this for two years - it's common knowledge in the industry. For the past couple of years the Cortek workers have picketed outside NAMM. Apparently they were also at Musikmesse, but I didn't see them. I'm surprised nobody knew about this? ???

Cortek do make some of the guitars we sell, so I hope I am not out of line commenting on this topic.

Ray

As far as I can tell Cortek make guitars and bits for a hell of a lot of guitar companies and there doesnt appear to be too much that we can buy. Maybe someone should start a list of companies that treat their workers well so we can buy with clear consience and all. I'm even worried about the PRS SE I bought a few months back that says made in Korea.

AlanRatcliffe

Mr T wrote Cortek do make some of the guitars we sell, so I hope I am not out of line commenting on this topic.

They make so many brands, it will be hard for anyone to avoid them. Unless you only import top expensive Japanese and US-made instruments.

I don't condone Cort's actions (especially the treatment of the peoplewhile they are employees), but I find it funny that many people screaming about it are the same ones who have made it possible by buying only relatively cheap guitars and are often the first to scream at the higher prices of US and Japanese instruments. Mostly so that they could have a collection and variety rather than one or two really good instruments. And let's not even get into the environmental impact of such behaviour...

Over the last 40 years, this has driven production (not just guitars either) from the US to Japan, from Japan to Korea, From Korea to Taiwan and Singapore, from Taiwan and Singapore to China etc. Each time this has happened, factories full of unskilled and semi-skilled workers have lost their jobs - and no-one cried for them. The factories improve the economy to the point that they cannot build the product at the same price point anymore (primarily because of labour costs), so they are forced to move to another developing economy and the whole process repeats itself.

IceCreamMan

looks like a politcal thread this ,,put it up against hte wall.

Why dont the workers just stop working there?

singemonkey

IceCreamMan wrote looks like a politcal thread this ,,put it up against hte wall.

Why dont the workers just stop working there?

In this case it's of direct relevance to guitar playing. Again I'll say, who cares if we didn't notice or were unaware before? Not seeking out information before doesn't mean we should ignore what we discover late in the day. If you discover your neighbour's child has been abused and you think back, "Hmm, that would explain all the bruises and the crying," do you go, "Well, I didn't notice before so it's ok?" Not a damn.

Many companies may use Cort products. If there's enough heat on Core-tek, however, they may quickly leap back from its toxicity. And it serves as a warning to other manufacturers - use abusive contractors and see your brand become toxic.

IceCreamMan

singemonkey wrote
IceCreamMan wrote looks like a politcal thread this ,,put it up against hte wall.

Why dont the workers just stop working there?

In this case it's of direct relevance to guitar playing. Again I'll say, who cares if we didn't notice or were unaware before? Not seeking out information before doesn't mean we should ignore what we discover late in the day. If you discover your neighbour's child has been abused and you think back, "Hmm, that would explain all the bruises and the crying," do you go, "Well, I didn't notice before so it's ok?" Not a damn.

Many companies may use Cort products. If there's enough heat on Core-tek, however, they may quickly leap back from its toxicity. And it serves as a warning to other manufacturers - use abusive contractors and see your brand become toxic.

and the end result is the factory is relocated to china and many ppl lose their jobs in Korea but i spose some are happy in China.

But these unhappy employees , why they not just resign if they unhappy?

Bob-Dubery

OK... I'll play Devil's advocate here. How recent is this information we're getting and based on which we are being asked to take a stand?

As Mr T. says, this situation is not a new one. In January last year Fender, one of Cor-tek's clients, requested a meeting with the Cor-tek board to address these issues. What happened? Anybody know?

One point: Disgruntled employees often don't leave and I don't see why they should. They're entitled to fight for better conditions where they are right now, and in the current global economic climate they probably wouldn't have many options if they did walk out. More to the point it seems they didn't have a choice, Cor-tek just moved the factory to another country.

IceCreamMan

X-rated Bob wrote
. More to the point it seems they didn't have a choice, Cor-tek just moved the factory to another country.

No surpise there is there ..look at the ZA textile industry ....

Bob-Dubery

IceCreamMan wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
. More to the point it seems they didn't have a choice, Cor-tek just moved the factory to another country.
No surpise there is there ..look at the ZA textile industry ....

It happens all the time and all over the globe. My step-son was working for an American bank who had located their UK customer support center in Barcelona. Come the time their lease was coming up for renewal they looked at rents, looked at their wage bill (most employees were on a one year contract with a month-by-month renewal, if both parties wanted that, after the initial year) and decided to uproot and move to Warsaw. Contract workers were given the option of moving to Warsaw but on the understanding that their salary would reflect the cost of living in Poland, which is to say that in absolute terms they would be paid less.

IceCreamMan

X-rated Bob wrote
IceCreamMan wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
. More to the point it seems they didn't have a choice, Cor-tek just moved the factory to another country.
No surpise there is there ..look at the ZA textile industry ....
It happens all the time and all over the globe. My step-son was working for an American bank who had located their UK customer support center in Barcelona. Come the time their lease was coming up for renewal they looked at rents, looked at their wage bill (most employees were on a one year contract with a month-by-month renewal, if both parties wanted that, after the initial year) and decided to uproot and move to Warsaw. Contract workers were given the option of moving to Warsaw but on the understanding that their salary would reflect the cost of living in Poland, which is to say that in absolute terms they would be paid less.

Where on youtube can i find the video of your step son complaining aobut his employer?

Yeah , i am being facetious but i think you get the point.

« Previous Page