Is Santa's workshop an elf sweatshop?

[Zuni]

Why aren't the elves unionized? Why does Santa set up shop at the North Pole---because there are few restrictions on labor and pay there? Hmmm.

Since Christmas is only days away, we should be asking this

[RobinA]

1. Sweatshop My Eye

They work 1 month out of the year. They have all their needs taken care of by Mr. & Mrs. Claus. They're all pretty old, so they obviously get good healthcare. They get to hang around with others like them. Anyplace else in the world they get laughed at and harrassed because they're short and wear tights. It's a perfectly functioning paternalistic society.

[Zuni]

6. Do you really think they make toys for all the boys and girls in 1 month?

It sounds to me like Mr. and Mrs. Claus are running a white slavery ring up there.

[yvr girl]

2. It's part of Canada - postal code H0H 0Ho

We don't have sweatshops.

Everything's good.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Santa threatened to outsource them to China if they unionized

I think he said he was going to Wal-Mart them if they did that...

So, the elves caved on the idea and settled for a one year contract with an option for a second and cost of living increases.

[Zuni]

5. Santa: Union buster!

[Jesus H. Christ]

4. Yes. On Neptune.

Elves: We are free and fairly sober
with so many toys to build.
The machines are kind of tricky
prob'ly someone will be killed.
But we gladly work for nothing...
Fry: Which is good, because we don't intend to pay.

Elves: The elves are back to work today.
Hooray!

Elves: We have just a couple hours
to make several billion gifts,
and the labour isn't easy...
Leela: Then you'll all work triple shifts.
You can make the job go quicker if you turn up the controls to super-speed.

All: It's back to work on exmas Eve!
Elves: Hooray...

Leela: And 'though your cold, and sore, and ugly
your pride will mask the pain.
Fry: Let my happy smile
warm your heart!
Elf: There's a toy lodged in my brain!

Elves: We are getting awfully tired
and we can't work any faster
and we're very, very sorry!
Bender: Why, you selfish little bastards!
Do you want the kids to think that Santa's just a crummy empty-headed jerk?!
Then shut your yaps and back to work!

Elves: Now it's very nearly exmas and we've done the best we could
Fry: These toy soldiers are poorly painted...
Leela: And they're made from inferior wood.
Bender: I should give you all a beating, but I really have to fly...
Santa: If I weren't stuck here frozen I'd harpoon you in the eye!
Elves: Now it's back into our tenements to drown ourselves in rye!
Leela: You did the best you could, I guess that some of these gorillas are okay!
Elves: Hooray! We're adequate!

All: The elves have rescued exmas day!
Elves: Hooray!

[Boswells_Johnson]

7. And what's with his collection of gerbils?