The Ugly Truth behind Cort/Cor-tek Guitars

[dubkitty]

here's another link to a two-year-old press release from the Cort and Cor-Tek Guitar Workers organization. seriously, are you getting paid to do this? because i could do it WAY better than you, and i need the work.

[ohsojayadeva]

here's another link to a press release from the Cort and Cor-Tek Guitar Workers organization. seriously, are you getting paid to do this? becauwe i could do it WAY better than you, and i need the work.

Your missing link makes the insult funny.

[dubkitty]

that wasn't a missing link...that was a reference to your use of yet another propaganda piece. i.e. "you're actually saying 'here's a link to...' "

[ohsojayadeva]

You'll have to forgive me if I think the South Korean workers have a better idea of what's going on there than you do.

[dubkitty]

and you'll have to forgive me if i think you really don't know what's going on there at all, only what a couple of Anglophone Korean labor activists tell you.

[ohsojayadeva]

Because why should we believe the people that actually worked in the factories? Dubkitty says the situation is A-OK, obviously everything must be fine!

My mistake! Won't happen again!

[bob the r0bot]

Everyone, it's time to calm down. Have some cute animals and chill.







Feel better now?

[tashiattack]

Any serious investigation into the story should have shown both sides. It seems a bit sketchy just because of that.

No, not necessarily. There are several films that show one-sided struggles, mainly because the other side refuses to comment or respond, especially if asked on film (which actually makes sense to me, given that CEO's and their companies don't want to get a bad reputation).

Not to mention, not all situations have two equally valid sides. Sometimes there is an oppressor and an oppressed, or an exploited and exploiter. Given that there is a large amount of workers complaining and protesting in SK, it's pretty fair to say there is a problem. Cort hasn't necessarily denied the accusations, they simply shift the blame or justify it. The same goes for workers who sympathize with the corporation, but this is expected.

Take this blog post with a grain of salt, but its a response to Cort and Fender's response (or lack of):
http://cortaction.wordpress.com/2010/01 ... nd-fender/

(In the context of this blog) claiming that the protesters are professional labour activists (they are activists AND workers, what "professional" implies im unsure but I guess to a capitalist its a method of delegitimizing concerns) does nothing to address the issues or dispute. So really how should one highlight two sides of the story when there is no adequate response or an outright justification of the labour standards by the other side? No one should ever have to apologize for wanting better working conditions, and better health protections and benefits, so that they can maintain a decent livelihood. Lets remember that these products cannot be made without the workers themselves. I'd like to see Yung Park make the guitars himself in the same conditions and THEN see if he feels its adequate.

Those who run big corporations do not see the world in human value, they see economics and numbers. If I can make an extra 10 million next year, as opposed to the 150 million i'm already making, then why shouldn't I move to China or Indonesia? Never mind the poorer labour conditions and further exploitation of people that allows me to squeeze that extra 10 million. At what point do you stop attempting to profit more from the year before? How far do you go? At some point this insane accumulation process is going to become destructive.

[devnulljp]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cort_Guitars#Contract_production

Ibanez, Parkwood, ESP, Schecter, G&L Tribute series line of guitars are among the most well-known brands that Cort produces.

Obviously this is a subject which should be of great interest to many.

And it's not just Cort. Your Danelectro? Same or worse. Squier? Same or worse. Now, look down at those Nikes on your feet .... much, much worse.

Even Gibson, to a lesser extent, but still -- the reason they moved the plant to Nashville in the 80s was to bust the unions, and Michigan had strong labour laws.

Too many MBAs in the world.

The only thing we can do about it is to stop giving them our $$.

[ohsojayadeva]

Thanks tashiattack for being a voice of reason.

I apologize that my replies here have been a bit testy; I'm simply baffled why, when seeing a large group of workers fighting for their own livelihood, and as one person said, to ensure that future workers are not subject to the same problems, some viewed by default that these workers have some kind of malevolent ulterior motive. As a long time purchaser and supporter of Fender, it saddens me to think that I may have contributed to this situation, even if indirectly. For the record, I do not own any Korean made guitars, but my money has definitely gone to a company that purchased guitars from Cort.

[devnulljp]

I'm simply baffled why, when seeing a large group of workers fighting for their own livelihood, and as one person said, to ensure that future workers are not subject to the same problems, some viewed by default that these workers have some kind of malevolent ulterior motive.

This is why:

[grindonomicon]

^ Actually, Cort has made plenty of Squier guitars in multiple countries... My current project guitar is an Indonesian Cort-factory-made Squier Strat neck and unknown Chinese-maker Xaviere body. I'm sure they've made thousands (!) of guitars in at least half a dozen countries.

It's everything. All your clothes and shoes, most-all your car's parts, the gas it takes to drive it.

Like the paper company near here, it's not going to re-open because people are bummed about it. That's globalisation! Woo!

[SPACERITUAL]

LOL WHO THE FUCK IS INTERESTED IN THAT

Oh fuck sorry i made a joke about a post of information weve had for almost, what, a decade now?????

[ohsojayadeva]

Well, I wasn't going to go there devnulljp, but I don't think your assessment is entirely inaccurate.

[tashiattack]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cort_Guitars#Contract_production

Ibanez, Parkwood, ESP, Schecter, G&L Tribute series line of guitars are among the most well-known brands that Cort produces.

Obviously this is a subject which should be of great interest to many.

And it's not just Cort. Your Danelectro? Same or worse. Squier? Same or worse. Now, look down at those Nikes on your feet .... much, much worse.

Even Gibson, to a lesser extent, but still -- the reason they moved the plant to Nashville in the 80s was to bust the unions, and Michigan had strong labour laws.

Too many MBAs in the world.

The only thing we can do about it is to stop giving them our $$.

I agree. It's almost impossible to escape it. Tis is the nature of capital.

I guess for me, when a group of people, like the Korean workers are actively asking for our support, I will stand in solidarity.