Ultimate insult for American programmers as employers seek cheaper labor

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Scott Kirwin clung to his job at a large investment bank through several rounds of layoffs last year. Friends marveled at the computer programmer's ability to dodge pink slips during the worst technology downturn in a decade. But it was tough for Kirwin, 36, to relish his final assignment: training a group of programmers from India who would replace him within a year.

In a sad sort of way this thread is reminiscent of the old "first they came for the trade unionists and I did nothing because I wasn't one of them"......now it's become "first they came for the factory jobs and I did nothing, then they came for the carpenters and plumbers jobs and I did nothing, now they've come for mine and there's nobody left to help defend me and my job".

More than 10 years ago, in the early 90's, I was the computer tech for the prototype garage at GM Cadillac. The Hourly ("blue-collars") UAW members were very angry about job outsourced to Mexico and to non-union states like Tennessee. There were also some very pissed IT workers who were GM employees forced to join EDS when EDS took over all IT operations for GM.

The IT workers were so pissed with EDS that they tried to join the UAW. I remember this very well because I was the UAW/engineers liaison and had to teach all the UAW guys how to use a computer.

One of the UAW guys predicted, "They're sending our jobs over to Mexico now, but just you wait, you white collar salaried engineers will have your turn right after they get rid of the worthless middle management."

When the axe fell at GM back in '92 (the year that you-know-who was elected) they started with the CEO and then worked their way down to lowly old me.

Darn, I just lost my job and to India on June 1st and SERIOUSLy thought about getting into the grocery biz somehow, I saw an e-commerce manager position at our local Albertsons and thought that may be cool...this position manages the web grocery ordering, etc....

I want to retrain in something other than IT...I guess I'll stick to helping my husband's band get famous. I'm doing a pretty good job so far, got him a meeting with a record label in September, he just got nominated for Best Male Vocalist of the year for the 2003 LA Music Awards, thanks to me talking him into submitting his music. God is listening to my prayers!! I've been quite depressed about loosing my 17 year job to India so the band thing is keeping things exciting for me thank goodness....

I asked someone on anther thread if they thought singers would get offshored to India...I hope not.

I want to sign up for food stamps too, but I guess I have to use up all my 401ks, and other assets before I qualify out here in CA.... I have a family of 6 to feed on unemployement. I must double check. I actually applied for low-cost or free lunches for my kids today, I really feel funny doing that.

It's one thing for a person to go hunger because the're to "proud" to use food stamps or other "government handouts"
I kinda admire that persons conviction and sense of ethics ... HOWEVER ... that ends when their children go hunger for it as well. You can't feed your family on pride nor should one attempt to do so ... IMHO

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