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Sanders to the Rescue: Downsizing Companies Can't Displace Americans

Donna Conroy dmconroy@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:29:23 PST

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced legislation today that will prevent companies from displacing American workers with visa staff. For the first time ever, the displacement of American workers will move center-stage when the Employ America Act is considered in the Senate next year.

Companies Can't Hire Abroad, Then Layoff Americans
The legislation, called Employ America Act, bars downsizing companies from using the H-1b program to fill their US job openings with foreign workers for one year before and one after their mass layoffs.
This is a body-blow to the shameful practice of forcing Americans to train our foreign replacements -- a corporate policy American technology companies have become world-renowned for.

Layoff Clause Included in EAA
While layoffs are never good news, many tech companies have been reluctant to lay-off visa staff, preferring to burden the US workforce with the pain of unemployment. This legislation will ensure that visa staff share equally in mass layoffs. Visa staff will have 60 days to remain in the US, according to the proposed legislation.

Under current H-1b law, corporations laying off or firing visa staff must pay their foreign workers return flights. Despite this requirement, many visa workers aren't offered company-paid passage home and are forced to become illegal or pay for their own flight. Increased federal monitoring should put pressure on these employers to fulfill their commitment to these workers to ensure their passage home.

Tech Firms Vulnerable
For almost 20 years, technology companies have depended upon federal visa programs to bypass qualified Americans. The combination of federal policing by the DOL and USCIS, criminal prosecutions, and proposed legislation add up to an onslaught against tech firms’ arrogant attack against the American middle-class.

Microsoft has been vocal in insisting that layoffs need not be shared between visa staff and American workers. They have been especially vocal in announcing that they will continue to recruit abroad to fill their US job openings - without first seeking local talent, which is legal under current H-1b law. Only S.887, America's Jobs bill, will force these corporations to seek local talent before recruiting abroad.

Tech firms are learning that, "all the lobbyists and all the globalists can't put discrimination and displacement back together again."

H-1B Reform Bill Could Complicate Offshore Outsourcing

Donna Conroy dmconroy@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:27:15 PST

This article is a must read for every player in September's discussions on comprehensive immigration reform.

Ovbery lays out the case: companies have been misusing immigration laws to outsource American jobs. Don't ask for whom comprehensive immigration reform is for -- it's clearly for us.

A provision of the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2009, intended to prevent companies from replacing American workers with H-1B visa holders, will make it more difficult for outsourcing vendors to place H-1B professionals at customer sites if the legislation is passed.

"While the fate of the legislation that would alter the administration and regulation of the H-1B visa program remains up in the air, one thing is clear: The bill contains an important provision, designed to prevent the displacement of American workers, that could put a serious wrinkle in the typical offshore outsourcing arrangement."

full story here.

Microsoft's Arrogance May Be Its Downfall Yet

Donna Conroy dmconroy@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:12:45 PST

Microsoft's arrogance may be its downfall yet. Or it could be Microsoft's use of guest workers as pawns in their attempt to transform US society into the haves and the have-nots. In either case, both elements are at play in Washington state now - and may possibly effect the outcome in the August election for King County Executive.

So far, BFJ members have played a part in this unwinding story. Wanna join in? Here’s the skinny:

Rep. Ross Hunter pushed thru legislation at Microsoft’s beheast to extend in-state tuition rates to white collar professionals who are temporarily stationed at Microsoft on corporate visas –at the same time that WashingtonState lawmakers removed $1.5 billion from education, layed off 2500 teachers, slashed heathcare.

The Seattle Times reported yesterday:
"The measure passed amid a roiling budget crisis and hundreds of millions of dollars in cutbacks to higher education. It was nicknamed the "Microsoft subsidy bill" by some lawmakers who say the software giant and its workers surely could afford to pay the higher tuition rates."

This is not about Guest Workers; It’s about Wielding Privilege During Economic Collapse
While families are burning through their 401k plans and retirement savings, Washington State Representative Ross Hunter fiddled on legislation (HB 1487) offering in-state tuition rates to citizens abroad temporally stationed at Microsoft.

Microsoft and state legislators cannot blame this legislation on guest workers. The guest workers and their families did not ask for this privilege; neither did they organize or lobby. With an average salary of $92,000, these guest workers did not plead hardship. Like all residents of the state of Washington, these guest workers will be heartbroken to discover these benefits will be shouldered by hard working residents who earn less than half - $42,000 - of what they receive.

Washington state legislators must pull together and direct the spirit of American generosity toward the families facing foreclosures, toward the seniors splitting doses of life-saving medicines, and toward the parents who gathered around the kitchen table to tell their anxious child they can't pay for in-state tuition.

BFJ Members Are Now Organizing to Support the “Good Guy” against Ross Hunter – Can you help them? (posted here on Seattle Times):
"Be the Change - Let's send Dow Constantine $14.87 as a protest to this HB 1487, the Microsoft subsidy bill." Dow Constantine will focus on all the King County families Ross Hunter ignored. Hunter can't see the people in need; only the corporations with their hands stretched out in greed.

www.dowconstantine.com

Would you support these BFJ members in Seattle to defeat a true Microsoft lackey? Donate $14.87. Tell your friends and family.

Donate $14.87 to insure that we have a King County Executive who will direct American generosity to those most in need.

Microsoft's Audacity of Arrogance

Donna Conroy dmconroy@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:30:36 PST

Microsoft's arrogance may be its downfall yet. Or it could be Microsoft's use of guest workers as pawns in their attempt to transform US society into the haves and the have-nots. In either case, both elements are at play in Washington state now - and may possibly effect the outcome in the August election for King County Executive.

So far, BFJ members have played a part in this unwinding story. Wanna join in? Here’s the skinny:

The Seattle Times reported yesterday:

"The measure passed amid a roiling budget crisis and hundreds of millions of dollars in cutbacks to higher education. It was nicknamed the "Microsoft subsidy bill" by some lawmakers who say the software giant and its workers surely could afford to pay the higher tuition rates."

This is not about Guest Workers; It’s about Wielding Privilege During Economic Collapse

While families are burning through their 401k plans and retirement savings, Washington State Representative Ross Hunter fiddled on legislation (HB 1487) offering in-state tuition rates to citizens abroad temporally stationed at Microsoft.

Like all residents of the state of Washington, these guest workers will be heartbroken to discover these benefits will be shouldered by hard working residents who earn less than half - $42,000 - of what they receive.

"Be the Change - Let's send Dow Constantine $14.87 as a protest to this HB 1487, the "Microsoft subsidy bill".
www.dowconstantine.com

Dow Constantine will focus on all the King County families Ross Hunter ignored. Hunter can't see the people in need; only the corporations with their hands stretched out in greed.

Let's support these BFJ members in Seattle to defeat a true Microsoft lackey. Donate $14.87. Tell your friends and family - have them donate $14.87 to insure that we have a King County Executive who will direct American generosity to those most in need.

Internal Documents Reveal Microsoft Strategy Behind Subsidy Bill

Donna Conroy dmconroy@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:19:07 PST

Internal documents on Washtech's blog reveal that the "Microsoft subsidy bill" (HR. 1487) is part of "Microsoft’s efforts to change state laws on immigration." In a misleading statement, Rep. Ross Hunter, sponsor of the bill, remarked to the Seattle Times that he was responding to a "bunch of people in my district" -- allowing readers to conclude that visa workers lobbied for such a benefit.

They did not. At an average salary of $92,000 in addition to generous benefits, these foreign citizens temporarily stationed at Microsoft had no such hand in shifting public funds to employees of Microsoft.

But Microsoft's lobbyists did - and even drafted the legislation, according to the documents. This "audacity of arrogance " is a callous disregard for the rule of law, fair play, and the democratic process. But it could not have occurred without the flawed judgment displayed by Ross Hunter.

Hunter has proven he can't be trusted with government funds. He's running for King County's Executive, a race he wants to win on August 18th. This race makes him vulnerable right now.

Can you use your power to defeat Microsoft's candidate by donating $14.87 to one of his opponents?

• Larry Phillips http://larryphillips.com/
• Stan Lippmann http://tinyurl.com/ld6n52
• Alan Lobdell www.alanlobdell.com
• Susan Hutchison www.susanhutchison.com
• Dow Constantine www.dowconstantine.com

Don't promote Ross Hunter. He has proven that he will take a hacksaw to the ladder of opportunity that Washington state residents - with an average income of $42,000 - so desperately need to move into the middle-class: good schools and a college degree. Send $14.87 to one of his opponents (or all!) to make sure that he loses the race:

• Larry Phillips http://larryphillips.com/
• Stan Lippmann http://tinyurl.com/ld6n52
• Alan Lobdell www.alanlobdell.com
• Susan Hutchison www.susanhutchison.com
• Dow Constantine www.dowconstantine.com

Ross Hunter has tied his wagon to this "audacity of arrogance." He fiddled with this private money-grab while he burned $1.5 billion off the state's education budget. Show him -- and his opponents -- that decisions like this will be met with defeat:

• Larry Phillips http://larryphillips.com/
• Stan Lippmann http://tinyurl.com/ld6n52
• Alan Lobdell www.alanlobdell.com
• Susan Hutchison www.susanhutchison.com
• Dow Constantine www.dowconstantine.com

Forward this to your friends and family.

While defeating Ross Hunter will be priceless, you'll receive this thrill for only $14.87.