Aug. 14 (M), 2023 工作文化差異下的龜兔賽跑/ How to balance the race of the work-culture between the rabbit and the turtle
昨天看了一項有關臺積電在美亞利桑那州設廠的報導. 由於對於對此事件的盤根錯節與來龍去脈, 了解不深. 只能根據我教學的經驗與觀察, 寫下幾點看法. 文章尚在修改增補之中, 若有不適之處, 請多提供見解, 並指正. 謝謝. (I read an article yesterday regarding the leading semi-conductor manufacturing company /TMSC of Taiwan building a new fab in Arizona, and now some ramifications are appearing... I jotted down some thoughts regarding this event based on some sociological ideas.... Still in the first draft stage. Welcome input. Thanks.)
Since the CCP-China was allowed to join WTO in 2001, this country has grasped the tremendous opportunity, added by the business expertise and resources from Taiwan and Hong Kong as the catalysts, turning herself into the world largest worker concentration camp. From Q-tips, cellphones, appliances, to cars, boats and the rest, MIC (made in China) inundates into every corner of the world. Within two to three decades, the rise of its middle class, the national pride, and patriotism tell its people that it is high time to show who is the real Big Uncle, and destroying the democratic Taiwan to legitimize its dictatorial regime must be done.
Taiwan, located in the first Island Chain of the west Pacific Ocean, situates in the world busiest international water way. Her geo-economic-political significance is immeasurable. She stands on the front line of the democratic camp, challenging the values of the autocratic system.
Then, the various warfare of the US. and the CCP intensifies the importance of the chips as the most strategic weapons of the world.
As the homebase of the world largest chip manufacturing company, Taiwan Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Company/TSMC) produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones, Taiwan, constantly walking on the geopolitical tight rope, is sandwiched between the odd couple. Like oil, being the global strategic material, in the digital era, the chip, is the essential red cells in the blood vessels.
Then, the U.S. federal statute enacted the CHIPS and Science Act by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 9, 2022. The act provides roughly $280 billion in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States. The act includes $39 billion in subsidies for chip manufacturing on US soil along with 25% investment tax credits for costs of manufacturing equipment, and $13 billion for semiconductor research and workforce training, with the primary aim of countering the CCP-China.
Before the Arizona plant, due to the risk of the CCP’s invasion increasing, in the beginning of the 2020, TSMC has expanded its operations outside the country in Japan. (A new update - another fab contract in Germany is almost done, but again, the issue of union can be even more thorny). As the world is gradually aware if the CCP’s launching the war against Taiwan turned into reality, the global economy, in particular, any things related to chips, from cell phones to satellites, would lead to unimaginable disasters. In November 2020, through shuttling discussions, officials in Phoenix, Arizona, US., worked out with TSMC's leaders to build a $12 billion chip plant in the city. (Note, the decision to locate a plant in the US. was also related to the previous administration’s warning about the issues concerning the world's electronics made outside of the U.S.).
Recalling I got the news that the chip-factory-in-Arizona became reality, immediately the image of Walker, Trump, and T. Guo on a photo of the breaking ground Ceremony in Wisconsin, popping into my mind. (Surely, they did not intend to produce CHIPS. Now, the business turned into obliviousness- 擺拍作秀, 迎合選戰口味之後, 似乎也就不了了之了).
I thought of a plant being built in Japan, or other similar countries, that was not a big deal for a second thought. But, in the US. creating jobs inside the country, obviously, is one of the most important tasks of a national leader. However, the intended and unintended consequences may last more than one or two presidential terms. Recalling the outsourcing and offshoring trend beginning in the 60s and 70s as large corporations transferred their manufacturing processes to lower-cost countries, General Electric was one of the pioneers of outsourcing at the time. Those of the days, labor unions still worked out deals with the managers and bosses.
The event reminds me that in one chapter of sociology about work and government, “Roger and Me” was a supplementary ( released in 1989) learning material related to outsourcing, offshoring and downsizing operation of big corporations riding with the globalization tide under the ideology of Capitalism. The film was used to analyze the manifest functions, dysfunctions, and latent functions of that trend. I would not deny that some people argued that the film was tinted with the left wing ideas. But, didn't it also present the reality, if not, with 100%?
A brief of the film. Journalist, filmmaker Michael Moore demands answers when General Motors suddenly closes the doors of all its auto plants in the Flint, Michigan, the city where he grew up. With over 30,000 people out of work, Flint, used to be the paradise of working class, turned into a rat population more than residents. The economic devastation was beyond words. Moore questioned that companies changed their business plans or operations, usually aiming at solving the crisis. But GM was in its pink and hot stage, making too much profit and then, moved factories to Mexico where workers were paid 17 to 50 cents per hour while the average local worker paid around 20 dollars per hour. GM took the profit to reinvest on military relevant big business for even more profit. Therefore, Moore aims to track down General Motors CEO Roger Smith to make him answer for his actions. While on the search, Moore also chronicles the emotional effect the closings have had on his family and friends, while violent crimes begin to skyrocket in Flint. Here is the film, if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDl6Bt6uO5c
So, maximizing profit is the core value of capitalism, and the rest of issues, such as, unemployment, lowering the living standard, even poverty, crimes, and the external cost of the environmental damages, are not business' business as simple as that! Seemingly the famous statement of the Senior Rockefeller (John D.) - Business is not charity. What the US. need is worker, not thinker - reincarnates again and again in the business battlefields.
In the documentary, from the filmmaker’s family background and perspective, standing and speaking for the working class was the overt tone, and critiquing the unrestrained capitalism and deregulation of business was its covert theme. General speaking, there were some short-term positive and latent outcomes of the globalization, such as cheaper products for most non-rich people to enjoy, leading workforce to upgrade skills and knowledge, the rise of middle class of the developing or the under developing countries, such as the CCP-China and so on. Surely, the negative consequences, now, no one can escape: overconsumption, artificial and conspicuous consumption, extreme climate change, various types of pollutions, accelerating the extinction of plants and animals, the unmanageable garbage, and more unpredictable pandemics, diseases, and the skyrocketing cost of health care and resources…just to name a few.
To the Arizona Project, I shook my head at that time, being skeptical how to accomplish such a big economic-political “mission possible,” between a big nation and a country, like Taiwan. What I concerned was not the hardware part which needed hands-on, but the software part - the work-culture that lay a bridge too far. Yet, I still nodded with painful best wishes....
These two money-power-business complexes shared similar political calculations amid the election season, with a minor difference - the former may lead to a much bigger problem, if the CCP China is not now, wading through a troubled waters of house-real estate bubble, wide-spreading financial crisis, declining in investment, import and export, the rising unemployment, and the on-going economic contraction.
To say the least significant phenomenon is that the chip industry is not only much different from other commercial businesses, but also with an overwhelming challenge, that is the aforementioned the working-culture-gap between a typical American employee and a Taiwanese worker (even Japanese, Chinese etc.). Most people are aware why the first, second, third, up to current wave of globalization which is still going on rampantly. Seeking cheap labor force and raw materials, low environmental protection restrictions, weak/corruptive governmental nature etc. are the main incentives of the multinational companies and entrepreneurs with high capitalistic zeitgeist. Making profits is everything, and behind the profits is the political power.
Though the voice and power of unions is much declining in the US. particularly when the Republican Party gains momentum in elections. Now, the union has the stance under the Democratic leadership to be sonorous against a trapped country, yet importantly involved in two major presidential elections and a big enemy- the CCP regime.
The theories and practices of union in most parts of Asia or the Far-Eastern countries are quite different from those of the US. After WWI and WWII, through the ruthless western globalization processes, the Capitalistic spirit penetrates through these nations, making them the best vassal states of the big business Brother - the US. The operation of unions, either insignificantly "cooperated," or symbolically exists, and most of them are "absorbed" into the conventional "Confucian Ideology" of obedience, diligence, respecting the powerful etc. authoritarian characteristics. It presents different approaches in dealing with workers’ rights and the companies’ profit seeking. In this sense, some might think of the collective vs. individualistic mindset or consciousness among these countries. For example, the workaholic pattern is a typical mannerism in the corporation environment. Being effective and efficient, agile in responding to emergency, devoted to the job and company is necessary for one’s survival and development as well as sustain companies’ growth. From a perspective of some “advanced” societies, this phenomenon is not encouraged. Thus, fairly to say, work-culture playing an impactful role is undeniable.
The above symbiotic relation is deemed as more beneficial than through power struggle. In reality, where there exists power, there needs some sorts of struggle. It seems presenting in most human societies. For example, the CCP-China, openly declares the importance of such thinking and behaving, while other cultures or societies, exercise it, gingerly or clandestinely. But, when rendering the non-zero-sum game, managing to have the cake and eat it – not only is possible, but can be worked out pretty well! Many stories were told about the relationships between employees and bosses in Japan’s corporate companies under a hybrid of the state capitalism concerning the wellbeing of the employees and making the optimal profit for the company.
Thus, a popular stereotype goes this way: “You know, these Asian cheap coolies know nothing about life except work, work, and work. They deserve to be enslaved…”
In the US., most workers without the union’s voice and proactive deeds, they may easily become the disadvantaged groups, or so called – the exploited. Outsourcing, offshoring, or hiring undocumented workers, especially, the AI development making many low-skill jobs diminishing, are some approaches of the business owners to counter the union’s stance. On the other hand, the corporate company needs to run the risk of business growth or decline in investing and management to answer the investors’ questions and feedback to their expectation.
The culture of workers whether the working class or the high-tech employees between Taiwan (including Japan and other Asian countries) and those of the US. exists a big chasm. For example, in the US. most working class with a stable income can enjoy similar to the middle-class’ lifestyle. They value their personal time, family time, and leisure time. Indeed, no more other accurate word to describe the value of TIME in this country than this - "Time is money, and money buys time". The price of asking them for the extra work with a quicker pace - is extremely expensive.
Furthermore, such a big and resourceful country through dominating the world over a century, people , even the working class, have cultivated a much more "modest" ("elegant" for the upper class?) pace in their living environment compared to that of some fast-growing Asian countries. Many Asian immigrants in Canada and the US. can sense the “slow tempo” in rendering business. There are not so many instant services available, except, such as the fast-food restaurants or shopping in the mall or supermarkets. Making an appointment to meet the need in a few weeks later is a common practice. So learning to be patient is a good policy.
(總之, 人家做起事來, 就是悠哉悠哉, 從容, 淡定, 名之為文明的曼妙步履. 天塌下來了, 有別人會扛. 用不著著急. 那像我們, 個個像個急驚風, 拼命三郎三娘…)
I found some comments on the following article interesting and thought provoking. Some criticized the US. workers “being lazy,” “scrolling cell phones during working hours,” “lacking professional expertise,” and so on. which tend to see the tip of an iceberg, for, as mentioned above, they are part of the " work-culture phenomena".
The planned schedule of the sucked-into-無底洞 Arizona fab to be accomplished in 2024 had to be postponed to 2025. So far, TSMC has spent US$40 billion on the Arizona fabs, doubling its original investment of US$20 billion and the cost is still perpendicularly rising. The leaders of TSMC have been discussing with the US. counterpart to bring in some skilled workers from Taiwan to help the process. This event provoked the local workers and unions to stop such a thing to happen. They argued that TSMC intended to take over the local jobs replaced with the "reasonably priced" labor force from Taiwan. These arguments seemed playing an echo chamber for the previous leader’s populist ideology to against the current leader… Some other complaints attribute to the lack of union, or with a weak awareness of worker’s rights in Taiwan, and so on.
But, the elephant in the room scene is that the global stratification of countries, which enables the big countries to have “better mannerism” over the smaller ones.
Job, job, job, transforms male into man, female into woman. Workers, unions have even to fight against the fast development of AI’s potential tsunami engulfing. The private sector pursues efficiency, effectiveness, maximizing the biggest profits to reify the spirit of capitalism which is prevalent all over of the world to prevent the welfare socialist ideology from ruining the great idea of the “logic of growth”. Taiwan, is no exception. Unfortunately, the geo-economic-political reality sandwiches her into this hard transaction. And this, could make the CCP regime quite happy...
Are there any better approaches available to the dilemma? TSMC leaders guaranteed that the workers from Taiwan would only work within a specific timeframe. After job is done, they will go home. Some suggested that the deployed experts from Taiwan train the local workers as an ideal solution. Good recommendations have been thought over and over.
As to the practicality, it might face how to mitigate the gap of the work-culture backed by a global power-structure.
Thus, it takes time - perhaps, indefinitely.
俗話說, 殺頭生意有人做, 虧本生意無人做. 真的嗎？
(For this, I could offer one of my teaching experiences regarding how students argued or negotiated the amount of assignments and projects or relevant learning activities in the name of consuming their precious time. Though, homework and learning are never significant enough, compared to making paychecks).
以下是有關這個事情的報導原文: (The following attached was the original article that I read yesterday).
--------------------------------------------------------
A feud is heating up between Arizona workers and the world's leading chipmaker after the company claimed the US doesn't have the skills to build its new factory
Jacob Zinkula
Sun, August 13, 2023 at 4:15 AM CDT
U.S. President Joe Biden walks with CEO of TSMC C. C. Wei and Chairman of TSMC Mark Liu during a visit to TSMC AZ's first Fab (Semiconductor Fabrication Plant) in P1A (Phase 1A), in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. December 6, 2022.REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
TSMC says the opening of its Arizona chip factory has been delayed due to a shortage of skilled
workers.
The company says it needs to bring Taiwanese workers to Arizona to get construction back on track.
An Arizona union says US jobs are being threatened — and is urging lawmakers to deny the workers' visas.
Who knew that building a chip factory in Arizona could be the source of so much drama?
To get the construction of its Arizona chip factory back on track, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) says it needs more workers with the expertise and skillsets that Americans don't have. Since June, the company has been in discussions with the US government about receiving accelerated non-immigrant E-2 visas for as many as 500 Taiwanese workers.
Not everyone's happy about this potential development.
The Arizona Pipe Trades 469 Union, a labor union that says it represents over 4,000 pipefitters, plumbers, welders, and HVAC technicians, has started a petition to urge US lawmakers to deny these visas. The petition claims that TSMC has deliberately misrepresented the skillset of Arizona's workforce. By approving TSMC's visa requests, a union website says lawmakers would be laying the groundwork for "cheap labor" to replace American workers.
The dispute marks the latest development in the US's race to build a presence in the semiconductor chip industry — something that's become a major priority as the world gets more reliant than ever on the devices that need chips to run. That means everything from smartphones to televisions to refrigerators and washing machines. And should the US ever enter into conflict with China — something that looks increasingly possible — it wants to be self-sufficient when it comes to making chips.
Last summer, President Biden signed into law the CHIPS Act, which included over $52 billion in semiconductor subsidies to boost chip manufacturing in the US and create American jobs. The legislation is among the reasons TSMC, the world's leading chipmaker, announced plans last December to build a second factory in Arizona.
But construction of TSMC's first Arizona factory, which began in the Phoenix area in 2021, has run into some hiccups. Initial plans were for the factory to open by late 2024, but in a July earnings call, the company said this would likely be pushed back to 2025.
The reason: US workers weren't cutting it.
"We are now entering a critical phase of handling and installing the most advanced and dedicated equipment," said TSMC chairman Mark Liu. "However, we are encountering certain challenges as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with those specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility."
Liu said the company planned to get construction back on track by "sending experienced technicians from Taiwan to train the local skilled workers for a short period of time" — these workers would join the undisclosed number of Taiwanese workers already in Arizona. But to do this, TSMC needs the US government to approve worker visas, something the Arizona union is trying to stop.
Given that TSMC is seeking billions of dollars in US subsidies via the CHIPS Act, the union says American jobs should be prioritized.
"Replacing Arizona's construction workers with foreign construction workers directly contradicts the very purpose for which the CHIPS Act was enacted – to create jobs for American workers," the petition says.
TSMC, however, has maintained that the incoming Taiwanese workers would not be a threat to any US jobs — and would only be there to support the construction process.
"They will only be in Arizona for a limited timeframe for this specific project and will not impact the 12,000 workers currently on-site every day nor our US-based hiring," the company said in a July statement provided to Arizona's Family.
The degree to which American workers can get the job done without additional assistance is up for debate. TSMC and the union did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.
Other factors have contributed to the heightened tensions between TSMC and union workers. In June, The American Prospect spoke with workers who said injuries and safety violations were common on the construction site.
"It's easily the most unsafe site I've ever walked on," said Luke Kasper, a representative of the sheet metal workers union.
TMSC has denied these allegations.
When President Biden announced in December that over 3,000 union workers would be helping to build the Arizona factory, TSMC founder Morris Chang reportedly said that this was "a little painful" to hear. In 2016, Chang said one of the keys reason companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook had been successful was that they didn't have unions.
The controversy in Arizona has even picked up steam back in Taiwan. On July 24, a Taiwanese Youtube channel with nearly three million subscribers posted a video accusing the Arizona workers of being lazy, according to Kevin Xu, the author of a bilingual newsletter on tech, business, and US-Asia relations. Insider was unable to contact the administrator of the YouTube channel.
