Re: Lest ye get too complacent -- MIDRANGE-L

<quote> Finally, if you believe companies are breaking the law by hiringforeign workers for below-prevailing wage, then either call the cops or yourcongressman.</quote>


Local police do not take complaints for Federal Labor Law.
There is no "Federal Police" for such complaints.

The US Labor Dept takes the complaints, but basically ignores them. I waspersonally told that "this administration is not pursuing suchcases....(this was in 2001).My congressman and senator both responded to my concerns with a generic"Thank you for your support" letter. In subsequent letters I did get arestatement of their position, that business cannot find "qualified"applicants (a quote from the business lobby). This is a next to impossiblecase to prove, especially for an individual. I was not personallyfired/replaced - but i saw others go thru it.When it comes to Federal/State laws regulating business - we have a wholelot of winking, nodding, and ignoring going on. This country always has. Asothers have said, it will take organized efforts to effect any change. Ibeleive in immigration. I do not beleive in taxpayer supported tech workerreplacement programs (and i have seen exactly that).

jim

----- Original Message -----From: "Hewitt, Rory" <rory.hewitt@xxxxxx>

To: <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:08 PM
Subject: RE: Lest ye get too complacent


Joe,

There are various laws in place to ensure that workers who come here on anH1-B visa CANNOT be paid less than the prevailing wage for the job type, joband geographical area. In the same article that Steve Landes quoted comesthis:

"Aside from documenting that the position offered is in a specialtyoccupation and that the employee has the appropriate credentials for thejob, the employer need only verify that the H-1B worker is being paid theprevailing wage for the work being performed and that employment of aforeign worker is not harming conditions for US workers."

I came here on an H1-B in 1997, got a Green Card and am now applying for UScitizenship. When I first came here in 1997, I was AMAZED that there werejobs for AS/400 people that Americans didn't want. I went through the 4-yearGreen Card application process, including several weeks of having MY jobadvertised in the newspapers (not just the crappy locals, but things likethe San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News). A grand total of3 (totally unqualified) people applied for the job (which was for awell-known big company, paid well and provided good benefits). Now maybethat's just the Bay Area, but I've heard similar stories from friends ofmine elsewhere in the US. Sure, it's all apocryphal, but I have no doubtthere's some truth to it - one of the BIG reasons the US is importing techworkers is because Americans can't (or won't) do the jobs. Amybe improvingAmerica's education system would help...

Finally, if you believe companies are breaking the law by hiring foreignworkers for below-prevailing wage, then either call the cops or yourcongressman. Otherwise you come off sounding like you're justanti-immigration, which I doubt is the case.


Regards and a Very Merry Christmas,

Rory



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