Slashdot Mirror


235,000 Software Engineers Can't Be Wrong, Right?

jgeelan writes "The Boston Globe has carried a report on how 235,000 engineers and computer scientistsl are calling on Congress to study the impact of the country's H1-B visa program, the recession, and the outsourcing of jobs overseas on the unemployment rate of engineers and other information technology professionals. It's an issue that's bubbling on discussion sites all over America too, though in one case developers (Java developers in this instance) seem completely unable to agree on whether H1-B is really a contributing factor or not."

6 of 873 comments (clear)

  1. I think this is a good thing by CrazyJim0 · · Score: 1, Troll

    Managers in America expect strict obedience and low pay rate, something alot of Americans aren't willing to give because its not in our culture.

    Corporations import foreign labor and pay nothing for it, and the foreigner works just so he can be in America.

    The pay rate for actual Americans can be lowered as a result, a pay rate so low that you can barely afford a refuge tent of your own. While the stockholders make millions.

  2. H1B's = Lack of Jobs for US Citizens by DaHat · · Score: 2, Troll

    Finaly this issue is being talked about. I have been out of work for over a year because I cannot find a single job. In part this problem has been caused by H1B's taking the jobs that I am going for, no this is not speculation, I have witnessed it several times. Maybe in time I will have better luck, but first this problem needs to be taken care of.

  3. How is this handled in Europe? by ObiWonKanblomi · · Score: 0, Troll

    Don't the people get mad and riot whenever a batch of foreigners are hired to work in their country for any profession?

  4. What happens when H1-Bs' kids look for work? by ObiWonKanblomi · · Score: 0, Troll

    Great. You get a short term solution because these workers help us complete the technical gap. Let's say this is true for the moment, which I am quite sure many will say it is.

    So Mr Patel gets a nice job with some tech firm and has a few kids in the US. What happens when Patel Jr is graduating from college and it's time to get a job?

    Most likely he will not have the same technical skill know-how that his father had because he wasn't well educated here.

    I am against H1-B's not because they supposedly take my job, but because it's short sighted. WHatever happened in investing into your own? In this case, for you smart asses, "your own" means fellow Americans. I want my tax dollars to go to good education programs. I want my tax dollars to go to teachers who work their asses off day and night to make sure their students get a great education.

    Call it Nationalism. Call it jingoism. Call it Racism. I'm the great-grandchild of migrant Mexican workers, and if one thing is certain, we must work on long term solutions to ensure OUR OWN can have the potential for a great future.

  5. H1B The scam exposed by small_dick · · Score: 3, Troll

    Three Reasons for H1B:

    1) The hottest theme in technology is "replaceable engineers". That is, you lose someone, you can pick up where they left off in a couple days. To do this, you need a big pool of applicants.

    2) Hold down American wage earners. Don't read me the text of the bill--it's bullshit. H1B holds salary and demand down for all technology workers in America, that's just a fact.

    3) Brain Drain. Rather than have these people work in their own country, and possibly come up with a novel or inventive idea before the USA, god forbid start a company making something cool, bring them over here and "own" their work.

    Don't tell me about improvements to the economy. I would gladly let a lot of people into America--on one condition: You can't cherry pick. You get cops, doctors, pilots, politicians, bankers, hookers, engineers. THAT would be incredible for the economy, and be fair across the board.

    The most annoying thing about H1B is the proof it provides as to exactly how corrupt America is.

    My brother was one of the last workers at a big-name Aeospace facility that was being shut down. This company was a huge proponent of H1B--"We can't get enough engineers! Look at all the jobs we have unfilled on the website!".

    They had over 500 positions open for a year and a half while they lobbied for H1B, and they never interviewed or hired a single person; in fact they were laying off. It's all a scam.

    Thanks for asking.

    --


    Treatment, not tyranny. End the drug war and free our American POWs.
    See my user info for links.
  6. Re:As an H1B Visa holder... by PhilaTopher · · Score: 1, Troll

    Again, you are completely, totally, and UTTERLY FULL OF SHIT. In 2000, the INS discovered that, on average, H1B's are paid 13k less per year (around 53k) than American workers. So, if you're an H1B indentured servant, you're hardly making a higher wage. Furthermore, there was some guy who filed an H1B application (for shits and giggles) asking the government to approve a bunch of imported coders with a per-hour rate LESS than minimum wage. It was rubber stamped and sailed right through. You'd be naive to think that corporations aren't taking advantage of this to bolster their bottom line.