Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

Lots of so called facts are incorrect here. India doesn't allow dual citizenship but Israel allows. You can be an Israeli and American at the same time but not Indian and American. You have to renounce Indian citizenship if you take American citizenship.

H1B's are not allowed for EWA assignment. Period. The terms of Visa prohibit that.

H1B is a dual-intent visa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_intent). It is for temporary employment and at the same time allows immigration to USA through employer sponsored green-card process. That is why you see H1B holders going through green card process that leads to naturalization (American citizenship) after 5 years. Getting a green card may take anywhere between 1 and 15 years.

This is where corporate America takes advantage of H1B holders. They can still leave the oppressor and find another employment where they can re-start their green card process. Most don't do and opt to continue to stay with current employer till they get Green card since there is no guarantee that the new employer will be any different. What we need is a Green card reform rather than a H1B reform. This will make employment at IT space even more competitive. Both H1B's and US born IT workers are equally impacted by offshoring. Verizon has seen about 60 to 75% reduction in IT staff due to VDSI. Unfortunately, that number will only go up.

If an IT guy speaks English he is lying. They can go to China and find great jobs any day of the week. They have College Degrees!

2wpd is correct. This bill is basically dead. However, the bill's sponsor, Sen Chuck Grassley (R), and Sen Dick Durbin (D) have worked tirelessly to reign in the H1B madness. Time and time again, their efforts have been thwarted by opposition on both sides of the aisle who are beholden to corporate America who don't care about the American tech worker no matter how much they talk about jobs.

Write your senator. Write your representative. Tell them of the abuses you see everyday at Verizon.

And, while you're at it, engage in a civil conversation with your H1B colleagues. Just as you would with anyone else, ask them about what brought them to Verizon.

Ask them, "So, you're from India. How interesting! What kind of degree do you have? So, what brings you to the US? Did you bring your family with you? How nice. So, how long have you been in the states?Really, that long? Are you on some sort of work visa? Really, what kind? An H1B? I thought those were supposed to be temporary for positions that Americans are unable to fill. Not necessarily, you say? Well, I don't understand. You mean, when one job ends, you can get hired at another without starting the process over? Are you sure? That can't be right because I know a fellow that is a citizen and couldn't get hired for the same type of position."

"So, what other types of work visas are there? L1? I don't believe I've heard of that. Oh, so that's where you can be employed by an international contracting company in India and they transfer you their office to the US and then contract you out to Verizon? That's legal? Could my friend get a job there and get contracted to Verizon? Unlikely? Well, that doesn't seem fair."

"So, have you applied for US citizenship yet? You have? That's wonderful. So, you'll be renouncing your Indian citizenship once you become a US citizen? You won't? Why not? You'll have dual citizenship?

Well, aren't you special! That's like having your cake and eating it, too! So, if you stay here, you get benefits. If you go to India, you get benefits. Good for you! Have you registered for selective service yet in this country? Hmm, I wonder, if the US and India were to go to war, would you fight for the US, I mean, being a citizen and all?"

"So, tell me, will you be going to India on vacation again this year? How nice. How long will you be gone? Four weeks? That seems like a long time. How can your boss let you be gone so long with all the work you must have? You know, I've noticed that most all of the Indian workers save their vacation and take off four, even five, weeks at a time. Your job must not be all that hard if you are able to take off so much time at once. It's very hard, you say? Well, mine is, too, but if I asked my boss if I could take a month off all at once every year, I don't think he would allow it. You must be awfully good at what you do! Oh, so they're considering you for management? Really? I didn't see the job posting for that. How do I apply? Oh, it's on the job website? You check that every day? Oh, your boss told you about it. That's funny, he didn't say anything to me. You must see something very special about you! Gee, you must be smart! Gee, I wish I was Indian!"

Just the fact that there is a bill is a clarion call to Congress that the citizens aren't going to tolerate this H1B visa program much longer.

This is one case I can say , this will NEVER happen (as long as they are cheaper to employ than American born college educated IT workers)

You realize it's been 8 months since this has seen the senate floor.

During the work stoppage I rode up on a bunch of these guys. They attempted to claim the were not H1B visa workers but minor questioning told me otherwise. I pointed out to them that they were working outside their occupational assignment for their visa and the all just laughed. Obviously contacting the State dept. yielded nothing. I hope someone looks into it. I'm sure the dems will block the legislation. We need to keep our citizens working in all fields.

Won't happen. Shareholders want low cost labor and Wall Street owns the congress. Somebody just lost any chance of reelection.

Another PR campaign, just like Kate's law, nothiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig............ will ever get done, as usual