No sympathy...

DeepIron · 02-25-08, 06:31 PM

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...61917820080225

The guys been bringing in temps from Mexico because "he can't find enough Americans to do the job".

Sorry dude, you've probably been paying lower wages and no health care benefts either..

Quote:

Thousands of small businesses across the United States rely on foreign, seasonal workers to shuck oysters, mow lawns, clean hotel rooms and pick crops because there are not enough Americans willing to do such work. The high-tech industry says it needs skilled workers from overseas to write software because there are too few Americans qualified to fill those jobs.

So, instead of creating "incentive" programs to get US citizens "off the dole" we've just taken easier way out and employed foreign workers.

Guess it's time to pay the piper...

Boris · 02-25-08, 06:56 PM

Meh, it's the same as corporations outsourcing labour to third world countries like China, but just on a smaller scale.

bradclark1 · 02-25-08, 07:17 PM

The computer industry have been bitching for a few years that not enough people are interested in computer sciences. China and India are pushing computer sciences. I forgot in how many years they said the U.S. will fall off to the side for high tech. Microsoft has been very vocal on that plus being able to triple the number of B1B's to cover the shortages.
We are something like 24th in the world in education now (or was that math?). It's on us! We buckle up or become third rate!

Kapitan_Phillips · 02-25-08, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradclark1

The computer industry have been bitching for a few years that not enough people are interested in computer sciences. China and India are pushing computer sciences. I forgot in how many years they said the U.S. will fall off to the side for high tech. Microsoft has been very vocal on that plus being able to triple the number of B1B's to cover the shortages.
We are something like 24th in the world in education now (or was that math?). It's on us! We buckle up or become third rate!

Hey, I'm studying Computer Science

bradclark1 · 02-25-08, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepIron

The guys been bringing in temps from Mexico because "he can't find enough Americans to do the job".

The question is are you willing to pay more than quadruple the price for fruit and veg?
We will always need cheap Mexican labor the deal is making it legal and controllable.

bradclark1 · 02-25-08, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Hey, I'm studying Computer Science

Well in a few years you can get your B1B visa then and work for Bill's old company.

Kapitan_Phillips · 02-25-08, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradclark1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Hey, I'm studying Computer Science

Well in a few years you can get your B1B visa then and work for Bill's old company.

Better yet, EA Games! :rotfl:

DeepIron · 02-25-08, 07:46 PM

Quote:

The question is are you willing to pay more than quadruple the price for fruit and veg? We will always need cheap Mexican labor the deal is making it legal and controllable.

It is a complex problem that has been developing over decades so I know there won't be an easy solution. But, that being said, if there is going to be any reform in this area, everyone is going to have to work on the solution.

Consider this, we've been enjoying cheaper prices based on cheaper labor. But what effect has it had on social and health care services? I don't think one can "rob Peter to pay Paul", the economic and social impact of this situation have to balance out somewhere.

"There's no free lunch" to quote Milton Friedman.

Knipper · 02-25-08, 07:57 PM

Over here (in the UK), there has been a massive influx of Poles (bless 'em) doing all sorts of stuff from plumbing to driving buses. I don't think it's so much that they're doing jobs that Brits don't want to do (hell - city financiers are retraining as plumbers cos the wages are better) it's just that native employment levels are high. What is interesting though, and kind of positive too (as I understand it at least), is that the Poles have been sending money back home and as a result of that and other factors, the Polish economy has picked up and these folks are now going back home again. After all, why work in a foreign country for the same wages you can now get at home? I might be being a bit simplistic here, but it strikes me that this is a validation of at least some of the principles behind the European Union. Economies interacting for the mutual benefit of the workers - sh*t, I'm begining to sound like a capitalist. I'll readily admit there's a lot wrong with the EU, but at least this seems to have worked. An important factor however has been the Polish work ethic

which, quite frankly, puts many other cultures to shame. I just hope the stereotype view of Romanians is a myth, is all I can say.

Platapus · 02-25-08, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradclark1

The question is are you willing to pay more than quadruple the price for fruit and veg?
We will always need cheap Mexican labor the deal is making it legal and controllable.

This is the basic concept.

People complain about "cheap foreign labour" and lament why can't these businesses pay higher wages and benefits. But how many of them are willing to pay the extra money?

My landscaper uses day workers. These are legal foreign workers. He pays a low rate and gives no benefits. The result is that I get great service for for $35.00 per month.

If he were to hire "americans" and pay what they would demand, my costs would be 3-4 times higher.

I am a capitalist. I want the best product for the lowest price. Why would I pay more for a product of equal (or most likely lower) quality?

It is sad when American's lose their jobs. But this is hardly a new concept. Americans have been losing jobs to machines and lower labour for over 200 years.

100 years ago, should we have restricted the automobile industry because all the horsey workers had their jobs threatened? I don't think so.

It is called evolution. If your job is being threatened by either technology or cheaper labour, the solution may be that you need to move to another career? It is not fun nor easy but what else can we do? Restrict future technology/economics?

It is not a fair or nice world. I worked crap wages and studied for over 12 years to get a career where I feel comfortable and secure. If the environment changes and my job is threatened, I will move to another career. I won't expect the government or society to stay static just because of me.

What the Government/industry should be doing is enabling these American workers to retrain into career/job fields that they can be competitive in.

02-25-08, 07:17 PM	#3
bradclark1 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA. Posts: 2,794 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	The computer industry have been bitching for a few years that not enough people are interested in computer sciences. China and India are pushing computer sciences. I forgot in how many years they said the U.S. will fall off to the side for high tech. Microsoft has been very vocal on that plus being able to triple the number of B1B's to cover the shortages. We are something like 24th in the world in education now (or was that math?). It's on us! We buckle up or become third rate! __________________

02-25-08, 07:57 PM	#9
Knipper Machinist's Mate Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bath, SW England Posts: 123 Downloads: 49 Uploads: 0	Over here (in the UK), there has been a massive influx of Poles (bless 'em) doing all sorts of stuff from plumbing to driving buses. I don't think it's so much that they're doing jobs that Brits don't want to do (hell - city financiers are retraining as plumbers cos the wages are better) it's just that native employment levels are high. What is interesting though, and kind of positive too (as I understand it at least), is that the Poles have been sending money back home and as a result of that and other factors, the Polish economy has picked up and these folks are now going back home again. After all, why work in a foreign country for the same wages you can now get at home? I might be being a bit simplistic here, but it strikes me that this is a validation of at least some of the principles behind the European Union. Economies interacting for the mutual benefit of the workers - sh*t, I'm begining to sound like a capitalist. I'll readily admit there's a lot wrong with the EU, but at least this seems to have worked. An important factor however has been the Polish work ethic which, quite frankly, puts many other cultures to shame. I just hope the stereotype view of Romanians is a myth, is all I can say. __________________ Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato

02-25-08, 06:56 PM	#2
Boris Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 1,691 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 0	Meh, it's the same as corporations outsourcing labour to third world countries like China, but just on a smaller scale.