CNN Interview with Donna Conroy, Director
Cook County Urges H1-B Reform
One of the largest county governments in the nation voted on Tuesday to open the H-1B visa-hiring program to US citizens and legal residents – in opposition to 13 governors who earlier this week urged Congress to expand the program, without ever requiring employers to seek local talent for top-dollar, white-collar jobs. more...
::: BFJ In Print :::
NYT:"Court Orders Three H1-B Sites Disabled," Dec. 29, 2009 The routine intimidation of Indian tech workers has now been directed at American tech workers who wouldn't snitch on an Indian tech worker, threatening all Americans' free speech on the Internet.
New Jersey and Free Speech: "The action has labor rights activists, free speech activists, and even some beneficiaries of the H1-B visa program united in voicing opposition to the court decision," according to an editorial in the Oakland Journal, a local New Jersey paper.
Businessweek:"Jobs and Protectionism in the Stimulus Package," February 16, 2009 Critics of the H-1B program hailed the inclusion of the amendment as a victory. "The demand to reform corporate recruiting policies that ignore highly skilled local talent now moves center stage," says Donna Conroy, director of Brightfuturejobs.com, a lobbying group for visa reform.
Businessweek: "H-1b Visa Season is Here", March 31, 2009: On Mar. 31, Bright Future Jobs, a U.S. tech worker lobbying group, posted on its Web site 13 advertisements for jobs in which the employer designated a preference for H-1B visa workers or targeted them specifically for the positions, according to the Web site.
Businessweek:"H-1B Visa Law: Trying Again", April 24.2009: U.S. tech worker advocates praised these and other provisions in the bill. "We're thrilled that Senators Durbin and Grassley are requiring employers to seek local talent first," says Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs, a lobbying group for U.S. tech workers. "They recognize that American IT professionals have the talent, knowhow, and experience to push America's economic recovery into high gear."
Businessweek: "An Academic's Labor Helps Fight H-1B Visas," June 28, 2009
Anti-H-1B activists say they're worried less about academic research and more about shaping policy. "The thing that's missing in Norm Matloff's strategy is fighting for a seat at the table," says Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs, a lobbying group that advocates restricting the H-1B visa program. "We need a political movement that allows us to help craft legislation. All the numbers [Matloff] crunches won't have nearly the impact as American technical professionals standing up for themselves."
CIO MAGAZINE: "H-1b Reform Bill Could Complicate Offshore Outsourcing,"
Many rank-and-file IT professionals laud the legislation. "The Durbin bill will put a stop to the outsourcing of American jobs and the discrimination against American IT professionals," says Donna Conroy, a former IT professional and director of Bright Future Jobs, a grassroots lobbying group for American IT workers. "This bill was written for us."
On the Radio
Donna Conroy on the Radio
1. Why lower the deficit by cutting services, education, etc when we can lower the deficit by hiring American citizens and green card holders for these top, dollar white-collar jobs? A discussion of corporate visa programs and how they are hurting the economy and destroying American jobs. Listen nowCredits: Danny Schechter on NewsDissector Radio Podcast talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
2. A discussion on outsourcing American jobs and the myths surrounding issues of bypassing American workers. Includes a call-in from one of the John Does in the Apex case and explains current laws which support hiring of foreign workers over citizens.Listen nowCredits: Jesse Richard, host of TvNewsLIES Radio on Monks Media Radio Network talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
3."They need to go to EEO rehab!" Bright Future Jobs director discusses legal protections the American corporation enjoy in order to outsource jobs and how they game the system.Listen now Credits: Keith Murphy, a well-known radio host and winner of the 2005 Achievement in Radio Award talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
4. American taxpayers help corporations with tax incentives to build their companies. Today, many companies have broken that social contract and now government and business legally outsource many white collar jobs. This is a discussion of current legislation to end this practice and how the situation was created originally. (Part One) Listen now Dori Smith, a progressive news analyst at talknationradio.com, talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
5. Increasingly, corporations are hiring foreign workers to save on benefits, pensions and (sometimes) wages -- discussed here is how US workers are being marginalized and their jobs outsourced. We hear more from Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs. Conroy is working to advance legislation introduced by Democrat Dick Durban of Illinois that would return the right of US workers to have a fair shot at jobs in their own country. (Part Two) Listen now Dori Smith, a progressive news analyst at talknationradio.com, talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
6. Dispelling myths of the American workplace. Conroy explains that H-1B foreign workers at Microsoft, for example, earn an average salary of $90,000 a year. The executive director of Bright Future Jobs also points out that there is actuallly an oversupply of American tech workers. Offers new ideas of deficit reduction based on employing American workers instead of foreign citizens. Listen now Jeff Santos, progressive talk show host of AM 1510 Revolution Boston and regular guest on MSNBC's The Ed Show talks with Donna Conroy, executive director of Bright Future Jobs.
