Work and Labor and China Story aired: Tuesday, December 14, 2004
You've seen them everywhere: the magnetic yellow ribbons on the back of cars, with slogans like, "pray for our troops."
Well one small, family-owned business that has been selling the magnets has seen its sales nosedive, and it's not a drop-off in patriotism. The problem is China factories are producing the magnets at a fraction of the price.
Dwain Gullion is the founder of Magnet America, and he joins us from Bennett, North Carolina.
Critics say that part of what makes China so competitive is not just low salaries, but often-appalling working conditions. An international conference on working conditions was planned for this week in Beijing. Many of the government labor and business leaders from 30 countries who were expecting to attend were already packing their bags for the trip when last Thursday, the Chinese government abruptly revoked their visas and cancelled the conference. "Inappropriate and inconvenient timing," was the only official explanation.
Guests:
Dwain Gullion is the founder of Magnet America, and he joins us from Bennett, North Carolina
John Evans, secretary general of the Trade Union Advisory Committee of the OECD, the Organization of Economic Co-operation & Development
