"The Real Plan" - "Layoffs" for lower wages is Not A Good
Same thing here, told had hiring freeze, will pull from FS to RX, RX to FS, fill gaps.. Don't believe anyone in management. Few months ago, CVs at Job Fair with a booth. Past month - 4 new hires, all live out of area and have H-2B visa. Some come from countries where they did not even have the right to drive.
This IS a pattern across our region and seems to be a well thought out plan. H-2B visas is evidence of how dependent certain industries have become on a steady stream of captive, exploitable labor that they can underpay and replace at will.