Sun confirms probe of alleged layoff bias

Computerworld ^ | 6/25/02 | Linda Rosencrance

[RonF]

Federal regulators are looking into claims that Sun Microsystems Inc. discriminated against U.S. workers in favor of foreign workers on temporary visas during the company's November layoffs, according to a Sun spokeswoman.

Info on the layoff itself here.

[RonF]

Seems a laid-off U.S. citizen is wondering why foreign-born non-citizens were kept on. Seems the Feds wonder why, too.

Here's an editorial from eWeek about how H1-B's should be cut back.

Here's a story about the H1-B program, how it's going to sunset from 195,000 visas to 65,000, and how Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo, wants to kill the program entirely in H.R. 3222 if the economy doesn't pick up. Includes an interview with Rep. Tancredo.

[RonF]

Even the Reflublicans need to figure out whose side they're on in this one.

[Paleo Conservative]

Most of the founders of Sun are leftists.

[Still Thinking]

Since the explicit premise of hiring H1-B workers in the unavailability of qualified American candidates, how can even a single American citizen be discharged from a company before all H1-B's in his job classification have been let go???

[Postbro1]

[blockquote]Since the explicit premise of hiring H1-B workers in the unavailability of qualified American candidates, how can even a single American citizen be discharged from a company before all H1-B's in his job classification have been let go??? [/blockquote]

Come on you know no one wants to look at this stuff. Americans are losing their jobs thanks to NAFTA and now because of H1-B. Who is going to save America for Americans?

[crazykatz]

I can think of at least two companies in Florida...one in transportation and one in DP consulting that laid-off Americans and hired H-IBs afterwards or left the H-1Bs in place, while the Americans, who had trained them, were let go.

[crazykatz]

BUMP

[Still Thinking]

I can think of at least two companies in Florida...one in transportation and one in DP consulting that laid-off Americans and hired H-IBs afterwards or left the H-1Bs in place, while the Americans, who had trained them, were let go.

I worked with a H1-B, quite a good man, in fact, and the INS was constantly making him document where our company had advertised to fill his position, as well as making sure he was getting paid at what they thought his grade was worth (to make sure we weren't trying to save a few bucks on a cheap immigrant). So, if Florida enforcement is anything like here, the laid of Americans can probably start a fire storm by protesting to the INS.

[crazykatz]

Good idea...unfortunately I do not know where the laid off folks went.....I would actually call them and suggest it...if I knew.

Our church group helped a couple of the families but they have moved away now.

[tdadams]

Most of the founders of Sun are leftists.

A lot of people don't know that Sun is an acronym for Stanford University Networking.

Stanford? Leftist? Nah!!!!

[Ol' Sox]

how can even a single American citizen be discharged from a company before all H1-B's in his job classification have been let go???

In a management meeting last year, prior to a 15% reduction in force, I brought up that very argument and the likely scenario of discrimination lawsuits. Three months later, the sounds of the cafeteria contained far less Russian and Chinese, and the bathrooms no longer smelled of curry.

[Still Thinking]

In a management meeting last year, prior to a 15% reduction in force, I brought up that very argument and the likely scenario of discrimination lawsuits. Three months later, the sounds of the cafeteria contained far less Russian and Chinese, and the bathrooms no longer smelled of curry.

Not just the threat of lawsuits from the Americans, but the fact that the law requires you to affirmatively discriminate IN FAVOR of the Americans (that's the only reason the H1-B's are here in the first place). This puts the Americans in quite a strong position. (As it should be, since it's their country.)