U.S. companies are forcing workers to train their own foreign replacements

Axios ^ | Dec 29, 2019 | Stef W. Kight

[NobleFree]

Opponents of job outsourcing are making a holiday-season appeal to President Trump: Stop U.S. companies from forcing American workers to train the very same cheaper foreign laborers who will soon replace them.

Why it matters: Trump promised voters he'd end abuses of worker visa programs and save U.S. jobs — but as he campaigns for re-election, advocates say he hasn't done enough.

Driving the news: AT&T is poised to send thousands into the new year hunting for new jobs after assigning them to train their own foreign replacements, according to conversations with current and former workers and documents obtained by Axios.

• Many have worked for the company for over a decade. They aren't being offered severance or early retirement, and may not easily find a comparable job elsewhere with similar pay.

What they're saying: Sara Blackwell, a Florida-based lawyer who represents Americans displaced by workers on visas or overseas, told Axios: "American workers are tired of waiting for President Trump to do something on this issue."

• "They’ve gone from great hope in President Trump's administration, to great discouragement."
• She sent letters to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, as AT&T is headquartered in Dallas.
• She also met this month to discuss the problem with White House officials.
• The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Details: Despite receiving a $3 billion tax cut last year, AT&T announced new and expanded alliances with big outsourcing companies to replace workers with foreign or cheaper domestic talent.

• Like many major U.S. companies, AT&T has been shifting jobs for years now — but 2019 was especially noteworthy, as workers claimed that as many as 3,000 finance jobs were being outsourced to Accenture. AT&T denied the 3,000 figure, but declined to provide Axios with its own number.
• AT&T also signed multi-year deals with IBM, Tech Mahindra and Amdocs this year. Accenture, IBM and Tech Mahindra were in the top 10 companies to request H-1B high-skilled worker visas this year.
• "We are continuously working to be more efficient in our operations," AT&T's Jim Kimberly told Axios. When possible, AT&T is "helping employees find other positions within the company,” he said.

Current and former Department of Homeland Security officials who spoke to Axios expressed frustration that more isn't being done to keep foreign worker visa programs from undercutting U.S. workers.

• Lawmakers have signaled bipartisan support for reforms to high-skilled immigrant visas that could help.
• For years now, the Trump administration has talked about policy changes such as ending work authorization for the spouses of certain H-1B visa holders. But the proposal prompted outrage from tech giants, and it has yet to be finalized.

By the numbers: There are few comprehensive studies and little agreement on the scope of the phenomenon, experts told Axios, because contracts and outsourcing processes are typically kept quiet.

• Blackwell said past contracts she's seen lead her to believe that as many as nine in 10 of those impacted by AT&T's outsourcing may end up training foreign replacements.
• It's a common business model that's been used by other U.S. companies, including Disney, Verizon, Bank of America, Toys 'R' Us and Southern California Edison.

What they're saying: Axios spoke with workers who have already transitioned or will switch in January to working for outsourcing companies.

• Three current or recently-fired AT&T employees broke down in tears during telephone interviews.
• Typically, workers are guaranteed 12 months at the outsourcing company, after which they will likely be let go.
• Only a handful are offered severance or early retirement.
• "Folks aren't going on vacation, they're cutting back on their Christmas shopping," one person said. "If you know that you're going to be losing your job, you don't want to spend the money."

How it works: Workers may be assured their job will not change when they are "rebadged" to work for a contractor. "The sad reality is you’ve just been terminated without your severance," said one worker Axios interviewed. "You’re at the mercy of a company that doesn’t really want you."

• Workers described shock and confusion when they were told during a scripted phone call that after a decade or longer at AT&T, they'd have to work for a contractor or resign. Some were told they could not apply for other jobs inside AT&T.
• Some were told they were needed for a "knowledge transfer" — then tapped to train people on work visas or overseas who would replace them.
• A presentation obtained by Axios outlining the knowledge transfer process for AT&T and Accenture includes a slide on how to interact with Indian workers.

[NobleFree]

[LegendHasIt:] Is that last paycheck or two really worth the indignity?

If you don't know where the next paycheck is coming from, it very possibly is worth it.

They are already screwed.

So they decide to take down their fellow workers and the nation with them?

The subject was indignity. And their fellow Americans aren't getting that job in any case - they also are "already screwed".

[drypowder]

AT&T owns CNN and their mission seems to be to do anything and everything to make President Trump look bad before November 2020.

[NobleFree]

AT&T owns CNN and their mission seems to be to do anything and everything to make President Trump look bad before November 2020.

Trump can easily turn the tables on them by prosecuting them for lying about the unavailability of Americans for the jobs in question.

Think he will?

[Mariner]

“tell these jackals to “f off.”

It’s the only long term solution.

Just say no, and walk.

Those that collaborate are enemies too.

[NobleFree]

It’s the only long term solution.

Is it a solution - would refusing to train mean that the H-1B would not be given that job?

[Mariner]

“And their fellow Americans aren’t getting that job in any case”

that’s because weaklings keep training their foreign replacements.

Do you really believe these deals would go forward if the existing workforce refused to cooperate?

Maybe ONE. Extraordinarily rare thereafter.

[Mariner]

“would refusing to train mean that the H-1B would not be given that job? “

It means he and the corrupt bastards that made the decision will not keep theirs.

And it would deter others, knowing the damaging outcome to business operations.

You can be the very best network engineer in the world, but if you go into a complex corporate network without methodical transition and training, you’ll be breaking stuff for a year.

And some of it will be really, really big stuff.

[NobleFree]

Point taken.

[zeestephen]

Trump has completely failed to reduce foreign workers.

In fact, Trump has substantially increased OPT work visas - now more than 200,000.

OPT is a lightly camouflaged H-1B work visa for recent foreign graduates of USA universities.

It is actually part of the normal student visa for foreign students.

Recent STEM graduates can work in the USA for 36 months.

They - and their USA employers - pay no Social Security or Medicare taxes.

From memory - the lost tax revenue is more than $1 billion a year.

[BobL]

Somehow I get VERY SUSPICIOUS when Trump haters tell conservatives why they shouldn’t support Trump.

[grey_whiskers]

Sod off, swampy.

[StolarStorm]

Agree. The worst though are the “consultants” that sell this crap to dumb executives. It doesn’t help America and it doesn’t help the companies that do it. I’ve seen project failures after failures due to offshoring tech dev. Anyone who thinks offshoring provides REAL value has no experience with it, has a vested interest in claiming otherwise or is simply a fool.

[TheConservativeTejano]

What is this article, 30 years old? This is nothing new.

Partner, I do think the article is old since it has been going on for years.

I do know that the CEO's and Board of directors of these companies should be tarred and feathered for going after American workers.

[BobL]

It’s easy to BASH TRUMP here.

So how about telling us who we should support instead. Maybe William Weld, or Joe Biden?

[zeestephen]

Re: Is that last paycheck or two really worth the indignity?

The added compensation is much higher than that.

Typically, large USA corporations increase their standard severance package by 6-12 months if you train your foreign replacement.

Full Disclosure....

I completely oppose ALL foreign work visas except for truly unique or truly gifted individuals - maybe 10,000 a year?

[NobleFree]

Somehow I get VERY SUSPICIOUS when Trump haters tell conservatives why they shouldn’t support Trump.

Who's a Trump hater? And who has said conservatives shouldn’t support Trump? Are you sure you posted your note to the intended thread?

[hoosierham]

H1B and OPT are simply the elites scrapping on the American workers for the last thirty years,and it is a truly bipartisan program.

[NobleFree]

It’s easy to BASH TRUMP here.

"Hasn't done enough" is "bashing"? Have a hankie, snowflake.

[BobL]

How about telling us who to vote for? Maybe no one else, just stay home?

[BobL]

I still want to know who YOUR CANDIDATE is. I see you also posted an article attacking Trump for not securing the border fast enough (for you).

So who is your candidate?