September 15, 2003
(Computerworld)
I have been a mainframe programmer for 20 years. I was laid off from my permanent job almost exactly a year ago. I haven't been able to find any work at all since then in the computer field. I collected unemployment and was able to obtain a training voucher from New York state to upgrade my computer skills. I took a package of Microsoft .Net courses and became certified. But I still can't get a job in the computer field.
The only jobs I see available to me in this economy are commission-only sales jobs. And even those are hard to find.
I believe my livelihood has been taken away from me by the outsourcing of IT jobs offshore, as well as the importing of cheap foreign labor to the U.S. Before my permanent job -- from which I was laid off -- I held a subcontractor position at a company. While I was there, the company brought in perhaps 100 foreign temporary computer programmers from India to work at its IT installation in Connecticut. These foreign workers lived in cheap, dormitory-style housing -- several people to a room -- and were paid much less than U.S. programmers. The company also instituted a policy whereby American temporary workers weren't permitted to stay more than one year. However, this didn't apply to the foreign temporary workers, and they are still at the company.
With the economy the way it is, and with more American workers being laid off every month, I can't believe our leaders are permitting this to happen. But they are. And this trend isn't restricted to the computer field. I understand that Wall Street plans to outsource a half-million quality jobs to India within the next five years. And other industries plan to follow suit. How many decent jobs will be left in the U.S.? How will our economy sustain itself if this continues?
What is the point of being a citizen of the U.S. if foreigners are given priority over you in your own country? I believe both the Democratic and Republican parties are equally responsible. I even wrote a letter to President Bush concerning this situation. I haven't even received a courtesy reply from the White House. You can be sure I will vote appropriately in the next election.
-- N.D.