Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Toyota Camry hybrid lead engineer died from Karoshi (overwork)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/toyota-camry-hybrid-lead-engineer-died-from-karoshi-overwork/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/toyota-camry-hybrid-lead-engineer-died-from-karoshi-overwork/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/toyota-camry-hybrid-lead-engineer-died-from-karoshi-overwork/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lending a bit of credence to recent allegations made by The National Labor Committee regarding workers right abuses by Toyota is the recent death of a lead engineer on the Camry hybrid project. Although the man died back in 2006, the Japanese Health Ministry has just now ruled that the man died of karoshi, which is a Japanese word meaning death from overwork. This ruling will allow his family to receive benefits from his ex-employer. The 45-year old man is survived by a daughter and his wife, who recalls her husband working long eighty-hour work weeks, along with frequent nights and weekends. Just prior to his death, he was working on shipping logistics related to the Detroit Auto Show, a trip he missed by just one day. Toyota responded to the ruling by saying that it would monitor its workers health more closely. Thanks for the tip, Ledwinka!

[Source: AP via Yahoo]

Toyota Camry hybrid lead engineer died from Karoshi (overwork) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camry hybridCamryHybridkaroshioverworkoverworkedtoyotaworker rightsWorkerRightsworkers rightsWorkersRightsWed, 09 Jul 2008 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The top is a tough place to be. Just ask Toyota, which is now facing charges of worker right abuses, including the use of sweat shops and human trafficking. As we've reported before, Japan even has a word for being overworked to death: karoshi. Toyota plants are not immune to this stress-related disease, as workers at its plants have indeed suffered death due to working too hard. These facts have caught the attention of The National Labor Committee, which has an entire report worked up that alleges Toyota over-works and under-pays its Japanese employees and has ties to various unsavory Dictators. It's also been well established that Toyota does not want its American workforce unionized.

The report is being directly targeted at Prius-driving celebrities who see Toyota as the shining green beacon in a world of pollution-spewing car companies. Whether or not this report has all its facts straight, if famous Toyota supporters in Hollywood react to these allegations, Toyota could indeed have a public relations disaster on its hands.

[Source: The National Labor Committee via World Car Fans]

Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>sweat shopsweat shopssweatshopsweatshopstoyotaworker rightsWorkerRightsworkers rightsworkers unionsWorkersRightsWorkersUnionsWed, 18 Jun 2008 14:25:00 EST