This is in response to Aaron Cho’s blog post which can be found here

Aaron’s blog post talked about how billion-dollar companies such as Samsung and Apple are participating in questionable labour practices. I completely agree with his position on this issue. As Samsung and Apple continue to outsource to China and other countries, they have no regard for their highly unethical labour practices. Underpaying and exploiting vulnerable employees is unacceptable.

According to Edward Freeman’s Stakeholder Theory (video below), if any business wishes to succeed, it must satisfy different stakeholders – its customers, suppliers, financiers, the community and also its employees. However, the aforementioned companies are clearly neglecting the interests and well-being of its employees. In addition, according to Freeman, the interests of the stakeholders are inter-linked and one cannot be neglected while some are not. Sooner than later, the other stakeholders of Apple and Samsung will experience the ramifications of its neglect for their employees.

Though one’s ethics should not take control of his/her business, ethics do help establish a good, long-term reputation.

Another NHL Lockout is probable in the near future. How long it will last this time around, we don’t know. The NHL Players Association and the League yet again do not see eye to eye on the renewal of the players’ contract.

The players are currently entitled to 57% of revenue, and the remaining 43% goes to the owners. However, now the owners are fighting for 53%.

At the conclusion of the 2004-2005 NHL Lockout, where there was no hockey for an entire season, the NHL (ownership) got their way while players took a 24% pay cut and agreed to the salary cap.

Yet again, the NHL wants the players to take a pay cut, among other things. The ethical issue behind this concern is that the contract and the terms that were agreed upon in 2005 were in favour of the NHL, not the NHLPA. It was a contract the NHL was happy with, rather than one they just settled for. And now, they are the ones unhappy and pushing for another revision.

These billionaire owners should make more of an effort to meet the demands of the NHLPA because they don’t seem to realize that without these players, there is no hockey to profit from.

Articles:
NHL lockout: League makes a ‘meaningful’ offer, take it or leave it
NHL lockout: Labour expert says signs on talks are ‘not good’