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There is a DC-based union for software engineers. It's web site is <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.washtech.org">http://www.washtech.org</a>.
A union is needed if only for lobbying congress. I do urge you all to write
your local congressman and express your feelings about the H1B visa issue.
I think there is a time when H1B visas are necessary but now is certainly
not one of them. I saw this coming a few years back when congress was looking
to increase the number of visas. At that time, it was clear they were looking
for "cheap" labor and not because of supply as they stated. We had tons
of consulting companies crop up reselling cheap foreign labor at our expense.
We are feeling the effects of this political decision now. Once again,
you need to make your voice heard by contacting your local <a
href="http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.php">representative </a>and <a
href="http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm">senator.</a>
I am all for a limited number of visas during normal economic times if the
person intends on immigrating here. But US citizens and permanent residents
need to have priority for jobs. PERIOD. This benefits everyone because
if a visa holder eventually becomes a citizen and buys a house here, they
will need employment like the rest of us. Some foreign workers have reasoned
that everyone should be hired based on merit alone. Merit is top criteria
but not the only criteria since people just can't pack up their house, belongings,
mortgage, family, friends, and schools to go to another job somewhere else
in the world. Work has to be available for people who live here wherever
"here" is. ie. This should be every country's policy. I also think we
have another problem in our industry which as Linux users, you certainly
understand. We have a monopoly that has deprived other entrepreneurs and
companies of prosperity due to it's anti-competitive tactics. If you were
to carve up $50 billion of the $60+ that Bill Gates has, you would have a
lot of innovation and jobs. Say $50 billion was divided amongst 50 states.
Each and every state could have several hundred entrepreneural millionaires
all employing people and creating great products and services. I think the
problem in our society is that we're out of balance. The system is great
if noone is manipulating the markets. But just look around and you see accounting
firms, energy companies, brokerage firms, software behomoths, etc... all
illegally manipulating the market in big ways. This isn't what we're all
about. We've already sent a great deal of our blue collar jobs to foreign
countries but what will we all do when our white collar jobs go too? We
should send our politicians to foreign countries since that's who they currently
represent.<br>
<br>
Because I think this is such an important issue, if you are interested in
a Boston based software association (lobbying and perhaps even a real union),
drop me an e-mail and I'll collect the responses and we'll see if we can't
take some action.<br>
<br>
BTW - I am not at all against foreigners. My father immigrated here from
Italy and I am married to a wonderful Japanese woman. I just think we have
a political issue here regarding how America conducts it's business. It's
correctable but we need to work together to fix it.<br>
<br>
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