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Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: Julia Malone 2003-06-20 13:40:02
See Full StoryAlready short on jobs, some U.S. high-tech workers are mobilizing against a growing threat that they will be replaced by foreign workers arriving on a once-obscure visa, called the L-1, which has no cap and far fewer restrictions than the higher-profile H-1b. The most controversial of those visas go to a handful of consulting firms based in India, where high-tech workers are plentiful, English is spoken, and salary expectations are low. Once transferred here, these L-1 employees are contracted out to run computer operations for dozens of major companies.
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: lejuco 2003-06-23 11:22:48 In reply to: Julia Malone
It seems to me that the least that could (should) be done is to deny any and all work visas when the unemployment rate is increasing. When the unemployment rate is decreasing, it would then be time to start approving them again. I'm sure that a formula could be worked out which would adjust the quotas to help keep the local economies on a more even level.
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: quilpole 2003-06-23 10:21:48 In reply to: Julia Malone
If anybody REALLY thinks this is about U.S. companies looking for improvements in quality or performance, there's a bridge I'd like to sell them.
Anyone who has dealt with these people KNOWS that, at best, they are equivalent to middle-of-the-road IT workers...
But, they are MUCH cheaper to use (at least, if you don't take into consideration their learning curve, communications issues, management issues, etc.).
As most U.S. companies consider three months to be a long-term planning horizon (after all, who cares about anything other than next quarter's stock price?), it probably seems like a great idea.
Does anyone really believe that this trend will lead to more IT jobs for Americans?
We've already exported many of our blue-collar jobs and many of our service jobs. Heck, why not add all the white-collar jobs too? We'll end up being a nation of government workers, Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists, Accountants ... and fast food workers!
Anyone who has dealt with these people KNOWS that, at best, they are equivalent to middle-of-the-road IT workers...
But, they are MUCH cheaper to use (at least, if you don't take into consideration their learning curve, communications issues, management issues, etc.).
As most U.S. companies consider three months to be a long-term planning horizon (after all, who cares about anything other than next quarter's stock price?), it probably seems like a great idea.
Does anyone really believe that this trend will lead to more IT jobs for Americans?
We've already exported many of our blue-collar jobs and many of our service jobs. Heck, why not add all the white-collar jobs too? We'll end up being a nation of government workers, Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists, Accountants ... and fast food workers!
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: rogerof 2003-07-16 14:13:14 In reply to: quilpole
I'm wondering how those fast food workers are going to afford to pay the salaries of those Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists, and Accountants. And by the way, regarding government workers, ... Those jobs are going to foreigners as fast as in the private sector. As many governement IT projects are being done by Indians.
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: swengnr 2003-06-23 18:56:26 In reply to: quilpole
Sorry, but accountant jobs are going too.
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: WMorris1602 2003-06-20 14:06:57 In reply to: Julia Malone
It is about time that American workers organize to stop their wholesale replacement by foreigners working on a visa in the United States. Many of these foreigners attend our universities to receive their education and training. Then, we sell their governments our technology and weapons, only to find it all being used against us in the end.
In addition, I believe the U.S. government should impose severe tax penalties and fines on corporations that outsource projects and jobs to foreign companies. U.S. workers are losing hundreds of thousands of jobs to India, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Pakistan and numerous other countries. Corporations are provided tax credits for creating new jobs and should face tax penalties for outsourcing.
Finally, I believe we should impose higher import duties on foreign products/services and provide incentives to consumers for purchasing goods manufactured in the U.S.
In addition, I believe the U.S. government should impose severe tax penalties and fines on corporations that outsource projects and jobs to foreign companies. U.S. workers are losing hundreds of thousands of jobs to India, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Pakistan and numerous other countries. Corporations are provided tax credits for creating new jobs and should face tax penalties for outsourcing.
Finally, I believe we should impose higher import duties on foreign products/services and provide incentives to consumers for purchasing goods manufactured in the U.S.
Re: High-Tech Workers Fight New Threat of Foreign Replacements
Posted by: aergern 2003-06-21 03:05:50 In reply to: WMorris1602
Agreed. Also, you might look in the cnn.com archives for a story they did a couple weeks ago. It detailed how 19 out of the 50 states outsource to these types of companies and that when a person calls about unemployment then they are calling India for an update on their status. I have no problem with people coming to this country to have a better life. But I think it's an offensive use of tax dollars to pay someone in another country a substandard wage while people who could do the job are sitting at home unemployed. The person in India is paid $200 per month while for the same job an American would most likely make $2000-2500 a month.
