October 15, 2007
The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. The Honorable Lamar Smith
Chairman Ranking Member
Committee on the Judiciary Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
FAX: 202.225.7680 FAX: 202.225.7682
The Honorable Zoe Lofgren The Honorable Steve King
Chairwoman Ranking Member
Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees
Border Security, and International Law Border Security, and International Law
Subcommittee Subcommittee
Committee on the Judiciary Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
FAX: 202.225.3737 FAX: 202.225.3737
Dear Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Smith, Chairman Lofgren, and Ranking Member King;
On October 11, 2007, George Scalise, President, Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), and John W. Meredith, P.E., President, IEEE-USA, wrote to you advocating for a substantial liberalization of U.S. green card and employment-based immigration policy:
www.ieeeusa.org/policy/policy/2007/101107.pdf
We believe it is important for you to understand that these proposals are not supported by your constituent U.S. citizen tech professionals, and that these reforms would cause irreparable harm to U.S. citizens’ liberty to pursue and remain employed in their chosen professions.
IEEE-USA and SIA advocate that Congress create "a new foreign student visa category to allow U.S. STEM bachelor’s or higher degree holders who have a job offer to transition directly from student visas to green cards."
Already many US universities are refusing to admit capable American high school graduates. UC San Diego, for example, is impacted, turning away students with 4.0 out of 4.0 grade point averages.
Once obtaining a BS degree becomes a path to U.S. citizenship, U.S. universities and subsequently the U.S. tech professions will be overrun by foreign-born workers seeking any means to enter the US to escape the low living standards that pervade most of the world. This deluge will continue regardless of whether a labor shortage exists in the United States.
Increasingly, Indian consulting firms (off-shorers and cross-border body shoppers) such as InfoSys and TATA, are operating in the U.S.A. and discriminate against Americans who are not of Indian descent. These firms pay wages that are 25% below market rate. This harms not only U.S. workers, but also U.S. consulting firms who can no longer competitively bid on public and private sector contracts.
This proposed legislation would be a green light to these firms to continue hiring foreign nationals over qualified Americans, and would thwart the long-standing requirement to first engage in good faith recruitment of Americans before employers could sponsor foreigners for green cards.
Last summer Americans were shocked by the 7th annual Cohen & Grigsby immigration law seminar in which immigration attorneys explained how not to hire qualified Americans during the PERM recruitment process. The solution is not to eliminate this token requirement, but rather to reform both the H-1B and green card processes to require a good-faith, open, and public recruiting process.
IEEE-USA and SIA seek to undermine the Secretary of Labor’s long-standing role in protecting U.S. workers:
8 U.S.C. 1182(5)(A) / INA 212(a)(5)(A) - Labor certification Before a foreign worker can be admitted to the U.S. for permanent employment, the prospective employer must obtain a labor certification from the Secretary of Labor. The Secretary must certify that there are not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified and available, and that the employment of an immigrant foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. |
IEEE-USA and SIA call for “improvements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at the K-12 and undergraduate levels” is a red herring that ignores the plight of bright, well-educated, and capable US tech professionals who are currently unemployed and under-employed, and maintains the status quo of displacement for at least another decade.
India has a greater tech worker shortage than the U.S. The April 7, 2007 AP article "Back to class at Infosys" reveals how India is handling its shortage of tech workers: Rather than lobbying the Indian government for programs that would flood in foreign workers, the employers are spending a fortune to train their domestic workers.
Infosys, for example, spent $350 million on a 500,000-square-foot education complex, and will spend $140 million in 2007 alone. The intensive training program is able to train even liberal arts students to work as software developers on U.S. projects in only six months. Certainly, if such training were available in the U.S., it could bring the tens of thousands of professionals with “outdated skills” back into the workforce.
Rather than spending their billions on the largest houses, yachts, and private fleets of jets in the world, if Microsoft and Oracle are truly having trouble finding skilled workers, why don’t Gates and Ellison invest a small fraction of their fortunes in similar intensive training centers in the U.S.?
In May 2007 Oracle VP Robert P. Hoffman opposed an amendment by Senator Sanders that would have added a $1200 annual fee on H-1b workers – which would have funded scholarships for American citizens studying engineering, mathematics, or computer science – calling the fee an “onerous tax increase.” Oracle has about 1850 H-1b on staff. Thus the annual cost to Oracle would have been slightly over $2 million, providing $15,000 scholarships for 143 American students.
IEEE-USA and SIA have concealed that many tech employers are foreigners working at foreign corporations. Their proposal would grant citizens of foreign countries the power to petition their fellow countrymen to become U.S. citizens. Congress should not outsource this responsibility to foreign entities.
The Programmers Guild advocates that Americans should have preference for American jobs, and that U.S. jobs should only be filled by foreigners when no qualified Americans are available. Furthermore, if free market supply and demand is to work, this availability should be at any wage, not the lower wages accepted by foreign nationals that employers would rather pay.
The undersigned Americans call on Congress to oppose the changes sought by IEEE-USA and SIA, alternately asking Congress for true reform of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs: Give preference to exceptional foreign candidates with the highest skills, pay a true prevailing wage, end the use of these visa programs by both foreign and domestic out- sourcing job shops, and restrict their use to those cases where the employer has demonstrated that no capable Americans are available.
In no case should Congress extend the flaws of the current H-1b system into the permanent immigrant green card program.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kim Berry
President, Programmers Guild
www.programmersguild.org
email: kim-AT-programmersguild.org
Signers – Gathered October 14-15, 2007:
U.S. Tech Professional |
Comments |
Noel Abbott |
Please do not support this transparent attempt to flood the American market with foreign workers to do jobs that American workers are qualified and willing to do. The IEEE call for more green cards is an attempt to depress high tech wages; nothing more. |
Michael Amanti |
The mandatory retirement age for software engineers is 40 years old. Instead of instituting this rule literally, corporations and lawyers are circumventing EEO laws and routinely discriminate against US Citizens. Corporations asked members of the Judiciary Committee on Immigration to relieve corporations of their legal obligation to advertise jobs so that companies may more quickly fill these jobs with foreign workers. For more information, see http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/84327.pdf section entitled “Certification versus Attestation”. Similarly, the Federal Department of Labor's Strategic Plan, page 35 says..."H-1B nondependent employers are not subject to the conditions, and their H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker." See http://www.dol.gov/_sec/stratplan/strat_plan_2006-2011.pdf |
Tim Anderson |
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Thor H. Asgardson |
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Stephen Atkinson |
This needs to be publicized. We need the media support, someone needs to tell the truth as what is going on. |
Mani Ayyar |
Why import only engineers on H1-B? Why not doctors? All foreign doctors are forced to go through residency and AMA restricts the number of residencies, thereby retaining high salary for doctors. Let us fix this first. If we are expected to pay first world health insurance premiums on 3rd world salaries, no US citizen will go into CS/EE. Apply rules to all professions on an equitable basis. |
Mike Ballai |
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Doug Bandy |
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David Banks |
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Deborah Barr |
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George Basham |
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John Bauman |
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Robert Baxley |
As an IEEE USA member for 10 years, I can't believe you are trying to sell us out for cheap, entry level, low-skill (both in language and technical knowledge) so called 'engineers'. I hope you come to your senses and support USA Engineers...not your foreign Engineers. Are you doing this with the hope that you will somehow increase the number of IEEE engineers in the USA? How about this: support the creation of engineers in the USA from the native population, not the importation of cheap indentured engineers from 3rd world countries. |
Robert Beadle |
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Kretschmer Becca |
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Jack Bennett |
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Stephen Benton |
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John Berkenpas |
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Edwin Berry |
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Christopher Bielinski |
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Norman Bobo |
Salaries and contractor rates in our industry are going down rapidly. Most of the people I speak with in my industry are considering other careers because of the dramatic drops in our incomes. This is mostly because of the huge influx of foreigners on H1-B visas. There is a whole community in the United States of employers and employees formed around the H1-B visa in the computer industry. These people are willing to work for next to nothing and are virtual slaves while working to get their green cards. Because their employers pay them so little, they crowd 4 and 5 into a single apartment, share a car and meals, etc. They are setting the pace on salary and consulting rates expectations for all companies and they are having a significant impact on the standard of living in my industry. I get 5 to 10 contacts a week for contracts from the H1-B visa employers. Their high rates are half of a normal consulting rate. The skills they provide are minimal. In fact, most often the work they do must be done over and over again to correct it. |
Bert Borngesser III |
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John Brandt |
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Anthony Bravos |
I cannot get hired as a full time worker as I am over age 55. I can no longer find contract work because contracting firms seek the cheapest labor they can find, which now comes from foreign nationals on H-1B visas, who have been brought to America solely to undercut American contract rates. This is the "Walmartization" of America in action and marks the end of America's middle class. |
Peter Brazitis |
I retired from the US Navy (Civil Service) 10 years ago, and I tried to apply for another technical job. I sent out over 400 applications, got 3 interviews and no job offers. I had a technical career at one time, now I hope my kids have the opportunity. Finally, I haven't seen any local want-ads in my field lately.
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Kees Briggs |
Frank Brockett |
Robert Buscemi |
Christopher Campbell |
Patrick Campbell |
William Caple |
Louis Carliner |
J Howard Carmichael |
Epifanio Carrasco |
Ralph Carrino |
Joanne Carson |
Sherry Cassidy |
Tom Chapin |
Gerald Charles |
Toni Chester |
Richard Church |
Stephen Clark |
Allan Clarke |
Char Clingman |
John Cogan |
Michael Connor |
Donna Conroy |
Steve Cox |
Philo Cramer |
John Cromartie |
Walter Crosby |
George Curtis - Hawaii |
Dean Da Silva |
Robert Dallas |
Margatet Dalton |
Barry Davis |
Regis DiGiacomo |
James Dillenbeck |
Karl Dinwiddie |
Guy Doan |
Duncan Dow |
Terry Durham |
John Dynan |
Brent Edwards |
Michael Ellis |
Michael Emmons |
Jon Ericson |
Aaron Evans |
Andrea Evans |
Linda Evans |
Bob Evans |
Scott Fader |
Richard Falzone |
Harold Fears |
David Federman |
Joseph Filippone |
Adrian Flanagan |
Greg Flowers |
Michael Freeman |
Kenneth Fry |
Boris Galinsky |
Cynthia Garb |
Frank Garren |
Jim Gearing |
Barry Gentry |
Ross L. Gillum |
Logwood-Ulysses Gion |
Thomas Glick |
Harold Goldschmitt |
Steven Graham |
Lee Grant |
Max Grant |
Anthony Gundrum |
JOe Guzzardi |
100% opposed. |
Chad Halsey |
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Carole Hawkins |
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Connilee Hayes |
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Derek Hayes |
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Chuck Hedrick |
I will NOT be renewing my IEEE membership because of this misguided endorsement. |
John, Jr. Heida |
Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems - Associate of Arts, Business Management -Over 10 years experience in creative web development |
Roberta Henderson |
People claiming to be patriots are destroying American jobs and American industry. As someone who trained my replacements from India and Taiwan, I know that American workers are losing out because of H1B, outsourcing, and green card expansion. |
Mark Horninger |
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Patricia Hoth |
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David Huber |
Testified before congress, March 2006 |
Mark Huckabone |
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James Hunsaker |
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Patience Hutchinson |
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Glenn Jackson |
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David Jeffers |
This country is getting wacko when right is wrong and wrong is right. http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org |
Jose Jiminez Jr |
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Janice Johnson |
After many years designing some of the largest financial systems in the world, I was shut out completely in my profession during the period the high H-1B cap was in effect after the passage of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act of 2000, which was passed in stealth by a voice vote during a presidential debate on 10/3/2000 after the Speaker pro tempore announced that she would postpone further proceedings on the remaining motions and that any record votes on postponed questions would be taken on October 4th. During those three years that this extended cap was in effect, my family was near financial collapse due to my inability to be considered for jobs. I sent over 2,500 resumes, which went unanswered. Huge numbers of US citizens lost their IT jobs during that period. It was only after the cap reverted to 65,000 that I was able to find work again. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF US WORKERS! THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION! There is only a problem of ITAA lobbyist lies. |
Kenneth Johnson |
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Phyllis Johnson |
I would also mention that there are already ~ 1 million trained, experienced high tech people in the US who are either unemployed or under employed. There is no shortage of techies in the U.S. The shortage is of people who had free educations, have no school loads to repay with interest using after tax money, and who work for years under H-1B or L-1 visas paying no or partial taxes. |
Robert B. Johnson,, SE,, PE |
It is all about replacing Americans with cheap foreign workers? |
Thomas Jones |
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Timothy Jones |
Please stop supporting these companies who are demanding subsidized cheap/nearly-slave labor from foreign countries. To you Republicans, you should KNOW BETTER about the hazards of meddling in a free market. Companies using worker visas simply don't want to obey market forces and pay US workers real market rates. Importing cheap labor amounts to CORPORATE WELFARE - you hate when Democrats do it, so you should stop it too! To you Democrats: how dare you call yourselves the party of the working middle class, while undermining our very ability to survive? You should be opposing all this visa and green card, if no other reason than to obstruct the Republicans. Of course, there are many other reasons you should be opposing it too, starting with "it's the right thing to do”! To both parties: there cannot be a real shortage of skilled labor without worker compensation soaring. For me and millions of other dedicated professionals, our incomes have NOT been moving up all! ( < 1% a year in my case, which is LESS than inflation) |
Laurence Jordan |
Sick and tired of this treason by our own government criminals. |
Thomas Joyce |
This is exactly why Congress has an 11% approval rating. |
Stephen Jung |
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Dorothy Kaltz |
I see way too many dislocated American workers, and I'm not about to support anything that will continue to eliminate American jobs through out or in sourcing. |
J. Kaplowitz |
My job was sent to India 5 years ago. I have been unemployed since then. |
David Katelansky |
The average H-1B programmer receives about $12,000.00/year less then his (there are an extremely low number of "her" programmers from India and China) U.S. born counterpart. At least $12K/year was the figure I heard about a year ago; might be less now. This difference in pay makes H-1B programmers more appealing to tech companies in the US then US citizens. This difference in pay is the basis for thinking that green cards will help US born programmers. Some people assume that American companies will be compelled to pay green card holders "full American pay". I've come across job applications of late that state the applicant will be required to prove citizenship upon employment (and ask this if you notate you are a US citizen/green card holder). There are companies out there that want to know if you are a natural born citizen or not. I haven't heard of patriotic companies hiring only natural born citizens so these companies probably want to know if they can pay you less then the "full American pay". I.e., it's doubtful that increasing green card allotments to foreign born programmers (if they received their BS here or not) will flatten the pay rate between foreign born and US born programmers by increasing the pay of foreign born programmers. However, an increase in the number of programmers living in this country will decrease the average pay of programmers (supply and demand) and will flatten the pay scale by decreasing the pay of US born citizens. I.e., I see this green card issue as another way to lower wages in this country. |
Richard Kellogg |
I have been an IEEE-CS affiliate for about five years. |
Brian Kemp |
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Bill Kennedy |
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Linda Kilcrease |
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Mike Knowles |
Who does the IEEE represent? I used to be a member years ago and canceled when I saw they were encouraging and not opposing programs such as the H1-B. I see no reason why I would ever join the IEEE again as they obviously have not changed their focus. |
Lisa Kohn |
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Vincent Kosmac |
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Eric Krieg |
please don't bring in more foreigners to take our jobs |
Steven Kritzer |
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Michael Kuehn |
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Elizabeth Kulacz |
There are NO JOBS out there for technical people, even with degrees, multiple years of experience, then returning for another degree. I got very tired of using my gasoline to visit corporations for multi-part interviews for jobs I had done years earlier, only to have that job given to someone with an H1-b visa. We do not need MORE permanent resident aliens to do the jobs that American managers WON'T find the American to do. |
Gerald Labruyere |
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Brian Lafferry |
The endless importation of cheaper foreign labor has transformed computer science from a career into a fascinating hobby. Please preserve the occupation of American programmer by limiting, or possibly eliminating, visas for more foreign labor. Thanks Brian |
Stephen Landess |
My employer, a Dallas-based computer consulting firm, has been destroyed by American companies' use of H-1B workers. In 1998 we had 120 employees - today we have 3. |
Jeff Lanier |
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Art Larson |
See www.h1bvisasucks.com Issues Section |
Steve Latch |
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D. Leu |
I've been an IEEE member in the past, and was just about to sign up again. I'm sure glad that I waited. Now that I know that the IEEE isn't going to be representing me, I will no longer be associated with it. And I will be lobbying everyone that I know to drop out. It's a really bad move to piss off the technical people who lead the industry. We're the ones others look to when making decisions. And the IEEE just chose the wrong side to associate with. |
Frank Livingston |
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John Longo |
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Dave Lovelace |
Just another Corporate sponsored cheap labor stunt! People need to understand that H1-Bs, Green Cards, amnesty for illegals and trade deals to provide foreign labor at 30 cents an hour are all connected. The common thread is cheap labor at the expense of American workers at all levels of our economy! |
Alowe Lowe |
Enforce existing law. Enforce wage laws. Would you work for $1 a day? Prove there is a REAL need for workers. |
Dan Lyons |
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Carolyn Macy |
Sent those people home and let Americans do the job. We are overrun! |
S. Maglione |
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Timothy Mahan |
Enforce existing laws. |
Thomas Mahone |
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Jerry Mahoney |
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Gene Mangrum |
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Philip Marcus |
The technical shortfall is real. The solution is long-term: for government at all levels to combine with industry to improve high school science and math education, as we did after Sputnik, and support college and grad school technical education. |
John Marson |
Unemployed! |
David Marti |
There is no shortage of American citizens that will do computer work. There is, however, a concentrated effort to destroy all good jobs in the USA whether they be computer or manufacturing. |
Jay Martin |
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Suresh Masand |
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Michael Mason |
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Marc Mcclain |
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James McClean |
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Howell McGinnis |
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John Mercier |
Safest place for a US citizen, who works in the IT field to be employed, is the government. |
Benjamen Meyer |
I am also an IEEE Member. There are people out there - companies (a) don't want to pay, and (b) want too much experience. It's hard to get an entry level job. A lot of companies want experience, but won't count non-paid experience at the same time. Thus employees are also undervalued in their compensation against what the company is charging customers for the same employee. |
Les Miklosy |
Supporter Programmers Guild |
Timothy Miller |
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Mary Minshall |
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Edward Mitchell |
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Kris Moe |
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Alvin Moe |
It's not wrong to favor American workers for American jobs.. It's not wrong to enforce laws already on the books. Why aren't these laws being enforced? |
Richard Morrow |
I am shocked that IEEE - USA would sign such a letter. It does not represent the American High Tech workers whose careers have been destroyed by these diabolical cheap foreign worker importing schemes. Shame on the IEEE USA! |
James Murphy |
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John Napier |
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Gene Nelson |
I have researched the extensive connections between corrupt Microsoft lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the changes to the H-1B visa program in 1996, 1998, and 2000 that benefited Microsoft - and other "high tech" employers at the expense of the careers of experienced American citizen technical professionals. |
Linda Nesheim |
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Neil Neyman |
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Roy Niemann |
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Robert Novosel |
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Chris O'Connor |
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Patrick ONeill |
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John G. Otto |
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John Pagakis |
The H1B and L1 Visa programs accomplish nothing save deflation of the value of labor by turning the participants into modern-day indentured servants. Any talk of immigration reform should start with an overhaul of these two programs. |
Michael Paige |
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N. Pandya |
If there is such a shortage, why won't the industry create scholarships to make it possible for students to enroll in STEM programs? The reality is that the industry resisted even a modest one-time $5000 fee per H-1b applicant to be used for such a purpose. |
Denise Paniconi |
Unemployed due to job being offshored. |
Elena Papavero |
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Kathi Paquet |
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Alphonse Pareigis |
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Eileen Parker |
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Peggy Patterson |
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Kevin Pavlish |
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Howard Pepper |
The only reason to try and fill jobs with overseas programmers without having to first look at American programmers is saving money. I don't know who the IEEE is representing, but it isn't the American programmer. |
Robert Perritt |
I and other Veterans are being forced out of the computer field by H-1B visa holders. Employers state that we can never again receive pay raises as long as cheaper labor is available. Labor that has never served this country, but freely take its benefits for themselves and their US Citizen children. During my 6+ years at Pfizer, we had to take pay cuts, no increases. And they continue to outsource to India. |
Wes Peterson |
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Bob Philhower |
IEEE member |
P. Harrison Picot II |
I went for an interview two weeks ago, with a firm doing business with the government, and it was clear that on the floor I visited, the staff was 90% Indian (and I could see at least 100 engineers). When we lose this industry, there will be no way to get it back. I spoke to a vice president of the world's second largest software firm, and he said there is no longer a path for USA citizens to enter computer science in this country. Green card expansion makes computer science a good idea in India and China, and a bad idea for US students. |
Paul Polak |
I have suffered because of uncontrolled H1b use. I am a veteran, with 30+ years experience in research and had my job given to H1b workers and lost retiree health benefits from the university of Chicago. |
Sally Powers |
It is a lie that US colleges and universities do not produce enough high-tech workers. The goal of industry to increase green cards is to suppress wages in the US - period |
James Pratt |
We need to outsource the congress to India! |
Phillip Preston |
I don't know that this will do any good. NWO will just ship the whole project to India. |
Robert Rabinoff |
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Anthony Rabun |
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Kevin Raffay |
The H1-B program is rife with abuse and has been depressing wages in field. There is no programmer shortage. I placed an ad on Craigslist for DBAs and Programmers and found great talent in ONE week! |
Joe Raper |
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Billy Reed |
IEEE is trying to make the loss of your job more palatable by saying it was a green card holder who took it. Who cares whether they are H-1b, L-1 or a green card holder - job loss is the same. |
John Reid |
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Steve Renick |
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Jim Richardson |
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Mike Risner |
Seeking additional green cards for cheaper labor is yet another example of the downward pressure on the American middle class. Meanwhile, the deliverables from non-American programmers are functionally inferior due to differences in cultural norms and expectations. The bottom line is what Americans will be able to buy products and services when they are either unemployed or under-employed? |
Gary Ritzenthaler |
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Jerry Robbins |
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Kathy Robertson |
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William Rogers |
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Mr & Mrs. Scott Romano |
Did I wake up in the Twilight Zone where there is no longer any value in American citizenship? This is beyond sick...it's EVIL. |
Carlos Romero |
Totally oppose leaving US engineers, who invested in education, in the streets because of cheap foreign labor |
Virginia Romero |
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George Ruck |
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Steve Sahak |
We need to train and hire US workers first. Companies are only trying to get cheap labor to make bigger profits. They are getting poor quality software in return, damaging our labor market and will damage future productivity gains too. |
Rob Sanchez |
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James Sanftner |
I just joined the IEEE and this is the thanks I get! |
Walter Sargent |
This is a unilateral assault on the skilled American workforce - the wealth producers. It eviscerates the incentive of education and conscientious work and contributes to a declining standard of living for the overwhelming majority. |
Peter Savas |
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Rennie Sawade |
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Ben Sawyer |
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William Schneider |
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Steven Schwartz |
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Michael Schwarz |
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Damon Scott |
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Lee Scroggins |
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Christopher Seaton |
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Richard Semock |
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Joanne Shapiro |
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Shahid Sheikh |
This is going to destroy American college graduates. Complete destruction of American middle class. More jobless, more foreclosure of house. More suicide, more family break-up. This will convert more middle class American to poor class. Lower the salary so that middle class will be like poor class. They will be totally destroyed. |
Russell Shilling |
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Elizabeth Simpson |
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David Sites |
Please be aware that H1-B visas are decimating our profession. |
Ellen Skerke |
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Edward Skerke |
Please the wholesale selling of this country. |
Lawrence Smith |
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Lawrence Sonnabend |
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James Sottosanto |
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Michael Spiziri |
As the way things stand now, I would /never/ recommend to anyone a career in computer science. We should be investing in our /own/ country and citizens. The current state of affairs is shameful. |
Michael Stickel |
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Paul Streitz |
Great work. Great to see the programmers getting organized. |
R Stuehler |
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Lawrence Sullivan |
I've lost track of the number of offers I've have had from India to go over there and work. Apparently they have some kind of a tech labor shortage there too, maybe because all their programmers have gotten H1-B visas to come here. |
Jeffrey Sunnergren |
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Sara Tate |
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Angela Tennyson |
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Paul Thompson |
The unemployment rate in American IT is very high. Not for NEW hires, but for hires who are 40 +. We need to hire more Americans, not more foreign workers. |
Michael Tock |
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Marc Tonkinson |
I just went to work for my first IT job a couple of months ago - seven years after graduating! It was a difficult job search. There's talent in the US, unfortunately it isn't being utilized by most US employers. |
Konstantine Tsimberg |
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Kathleen Turner |
I no longer work in Information Technology; however, I fully support the work of the Programmers Guild. I've seen an inordinate amount of evidence among friends and colleagues indicating that there are many IT professionals in the USA who are suffering because of the [probably illegal] use of H-1b visas. |
Elizabeth Vail |
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Joseph Valley |
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Teresa Van Son |
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Jerry VanHoose |
Americans built the IT industry. We had all the skills, creativity, and professionalism required to raise it to its current level and we are fully capable of creating the next generation. Those who claim any differently are liars and propagandists. |
Terrence Vaughn |
I am an IEEE member, and IEEE-USA has never really done anything to represent the interests of U.S. members. |
Chris Veal |
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Kevin Viieceli |
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Charles Volstad |
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Cynthia and Dwight Walsh |
We are both members of IEEE-USA and IEEE-USA's recent support for alien workers which leap frog rights over US workers does NOT represent my husband nor myself. We -- as IEEE-USA members as well as registered voters -- strongly object to such efforts. There are tens of thousands of highly educated and qualified US citizens who must be given the opportunity to work in their high tech professions. (See State of the Union Address of Pres. FDR January 1944 -- Americans deserve a job in which they can support themselves, shelter and feed their families.) |
Anthony Watson |
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David Webber |
What is the point of being a citizen and paying taxes if anyone from anywhere can be invited to do your job? It's an outrage that IEEE is supporting this over the careers and jobs of their members. |
Alida Weber |
It's time to end the H-1b program entirely. It is totally corrupt and has made it all but impossible for U.S. citizens to find regular employment. We are all traveling around the country, doing contract work for a few months at a time here and there. No wonder American college students refuse to go into this field! |
Nathan Weddle |
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Gerard Wevers |
I am an IEEE member and am OUTRAGED that IEEE-USA would side with advocates of CHEAP LABOR and SELL OUT those they allegedly represent with this ill-considered green card scheme. |
Robert Wheater |
No expansion of green card and no expansion of H1b. |
Pam Whetzel |
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Mike Williams |
For over 5 years I have been unemployed. At this time I am trying to get into the University of Edinburgh masters program in hopes of being to working under the International Graduate Scheme or the Fresh Talent in Scotland Scheme and eventually switch over the HSMP Scheme. In fact, it would not surprise me once I inform Mark at Vertex Solutions and Sean at IC-Resources that I would have three or four interviews and future job offers in the UK just on the basis of my future masters degree. Yet I cannot get work in the US. |
Bret Williams |
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Juanita Williams |
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Jeremy Wilson |
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Ralph Wilson |
I have opposed the use of H1-Bs being justified by advertising for US IT workers who are willing to take positions (especially entry level positions) requiring higher level degrees and an extensive list of skills. I have had to work with these allegedly qualified H1-B workers and it has most commonly meant that I did more work and they got more credit (they were FTE's and I was a contractor). I know of far too many US IT workers who are willing to take positions being handed over to H1-B's and L-1 visa holders to ever have anything to do with groups who are advocating no without any labor market attempts! |
William Wilson |
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Orson Yancey |
Off-shoring and the H-1B program is killing the American profession of engineering. Age discrimination by Corporate American is rampant. |
Bruce Yellin |
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Richard Young |
These programs are being put in place to bypass hiring legal US citizens and legal residents. We should file a class action suit against the US Government on the grounds that their immigration policies discriminate. |
David Youatt |
20+ year member of IEEE. I dropped my ACM membership 3 years ago, and will no longer subscribe to IEEE. Both have become shills for multi-national companies. IEEE-USA, in particular, should ashamed to have the "USA" part in its title. |
V Young |
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Dick Young |
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