“I worked at Monster Cable for 8 years. I have four children who are ages one, six, eight, and ten; and my husband was recently been laid off from his job, too. I don’t have money for rent, to buy food for my children, or buy health insurance. The boss says his economic situation is hard, but I think that my economic situation as a laid-off worker, is much harder. All we’re asking for is what’s fair.”
Jie Qiu Li, laid-off Monster Cable worker, 8 years service
“ I worked for Monster Cable for 18 years, using up the “spring” of my life in the Monster Cable factory. Through our hard work, we helped Monster Cable achieve today’s success. I have three children to support. We deserve fair treatment from the company that we made wealthy!”
Amy Guo, laid-off production worker, 18 years at company
“I worked at Monster Cable for 19 years. Now I’m over 60 years old, like 
many of us who were laid off. It’s very hard to find work at my age. After all our years working so hard for Monster Cable, it’s not fair .”
Polly Buu Ly, laid-off production worker, 19 years at company
1 comment:
Dear Ms. Liu,
Thank you for your letter asking me to help in your action against Monster Cable and Noel Lee.
I have received and reviewed your documents and while I feel for the
displaced workers, I simply do not agree with the entitlement philosophy contained in your request. I know that losing a job is difficult and disruptive and painful, but it is sometimes part of the free market system which has
made our economy and country strong.
Mr. Lee is a great American and you are unfairly besmirching his name and reputation. Think of what he did for the people you claim he treated unfairly. He provided a great place to work for many years and income for many immigrants with few skills. Today, to compete effectively he had to change his strategy and shift manufacturing outside the United States. He provided severance pay although under no
obligation to do so.
Now you are taking the position that because Mr. Lee is of Chinese
descent, because he is an immigrant, because he gave employment to immigrants, he must be handcuffed in the marketplace and must incur debt, avoid marketing and change his business model because the voluntary severance in your judgment was too low.
I wish your efforts were spent trying to help these people get jobs elsewhere rather than in this quest to get their hopes up that they should be getting something to which they are not entitled. The American way is one of hard work, risk and reward. Noel Lee took a lot of risks and built a company. The employees did not take risks and they do not own the company. This is not a socialist country, and everyone has their shot at the American dream.
I am appalled that you are taking such a harsh view of a great American immigrant simply because he is successful.
I started out as a factory worker but struggled to go to college and
graduate school. Some of my friends made different choices. Our national value is that both employers and employees make choices and that is why our country succeeds.
I will not help you as I find your campaign disturbing and totally
unfair to a great American.
Sincerely,
Gary Shapiro
President and CEO
Consumer Electronics Association
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