RE: Who's Hiring H-1B Visa Workers? Not Microsoft or Google, butoffshore-outsourcing firms

I absolutely agree with you. Unfortunately, the check signers in many
corporations are far above the people who can recognize your worth, and they
make their decisions solely on the next quarter's results.

The people who can recognize your worth are fearful for their own jobs, and
know that they, too, are a step away from being replaced by a cheaper
worker.

I saw this first hand a few weeks ago. A seasoned IBM professional with 30
years on the job was replaced by a guy half his age, half his cost, and
recently "off the boat". The new guy knows zip about the IBM i platform.

Paul Nelson
Cell 708-670-6978
Office 512-392-2577
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Buck Calabro
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 2:02 PM
To: midrange-nontech@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Who's Hiring H-1B Visa Workers? Not Microsoft or
Google,butoffshore-outsourcing firms

This analogy illustrates the problem. Why does an employer entertain
the belief that he can replace a Cadillac with several Yugos? Because
he believes that we are typists, not skilled professionals.

No one with an ounce of sense would remotely conceive of replacing one
skilled Cadillac neurosurgeon with a handful of Yugo interns. We
ourselves play into the hands of the 'cheapest is best' crowd when we
allow ourselves to be referred to in these dehumanised and objectified
terms.

I am not a Cadillac. I am not a 'human resource' to be managed lest I
accidentally mistype something. I am a skilled, IBM software
professional. Measuring my work product in words per minute, LOC or
number of check-ins is as stupid as measuring a neursurgeon's work
product by stitch count. Almost all of my work is accomplished without
any typing at all - my work is *thinking*, not typing and if my employer
doesn't believe that then I am a candidate to be replaced by cheap
labour. I am a problem solver and so are you, and if we want to remain
employed in this field, we need to make that crystal clear to those who
sign the checks.

--buck

On 5/31/2013 11:48 AM, Paul Nelson wrote:

Nowadays, employers are buying several Yugos with different equipment for
less than the price of one Cadillac that has all the options.

And somebody besides the employer is picking up the tab for the

"maintenance

contract", AKA your benefits package.

Paul Nelson
Cell 708-670-6978
Office 512-392-2577
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Buck Calabro
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 9:43 AM
To: midrange-nontech@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Who's Hiring H-1B Visa Workers? Not Microsoft or Google,
butoffshore-outsourcing firms

Capitalism at, er, work.

Not being an employer myself nor self-employed, the only defence I have
against being treated like a grade 1 bolt that can type is to
continuously sell my skill set - and my platform's skill set - to my
employer.

It's going to take much more than slacktivism to overcome the political
power of big business.
--buck

On 5/31/2013 8:30 AM, TheBorg wrote:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/05/28/h1b-visa-high-tech-workers-

afl-cio-editorials-debates/2367769/

[...]

Policy proposals from multinational corporations often come with slick,
poll-tested rhetoric. It is always worth digging deeper.
And the more you dig into the idea that we need to hugely expand the
number of employer-based temporary worker visas for tech companies, the
more you uncover the truth: This is about powerful companies pursuing
lower wages.

[...]


"Eric Lehti" wrote in message
news:mailman.1667.1365559066.7202.midrange-nontech@xxxxxxxxxxxx...

Who's Hiring H-1B Visa Workers? Not Microsoft or Google, but
offshore-outsourcing firms are

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/04/03/176134694/Whos-Hir
ing-H1-B-Visa-Workers-Its-Not-Who-You-Might-Think