Posted on 04/12/2004 10:04:50 AM PDT by Mini-14
I think that it's clear from the actions of Congress that the pro-outsourcing lobby has the upper hand in all high tech and guest worker issues. A new free trade agreement is being negotiated with India which will allow an unlimited flow of skilled workers into the U.S. -- completely circumventing Congressionally controlled visa laws. Congress itself is in the grip of pro-outsourcing and pro-guest worker lobbies such as the ITAA and CompeteAmerica. Congress is about to sharply increase H-1b numbers.
I was a mainfraim programmer for 21 years. I saw my income go from:
$7 an hour in 1982 to
$15.50 in 1986, and to
$21 in 1992,
$28 in 1993,
$45 in 1995,
$55 in 97, $75 (plus time and a half for overtime!) in 2000 back to $55 in 2002.
Look at those prices and tell me why companies outsource! And this was during a period (especially in the end) where there was little or no inflation.
I did get out though. I now work as a trainer for a company that sells the very tools I used as a mainframe programmer. It's much more fun and I get to see the whole country (and even Canada)! Pay's about the same - and you must speak FLUENT ENGLISH to do the job!
And did I mention this was possible because of a ten month course in COBOL and IMS. My college education was irrelevant!
A few people here used to work with me...
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