Southern California Edison (SCE), a public utility, has laid off hundreds of its U.S. employees and replaced them with H-1B guestworkers employed by the India-based IT services firms Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services. Adding insult to injury, S. Cal Edison made the laid-off workers train their foreign replacements.
The law (the Immigration and Nationality Act) forbids the hiring of H-1B temporary foreign guestworkers whose employment would “adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers comparably employed.”
Clearly, taking away the jobs, wages and benefits of the laid-off SCE employees does adversely affect their wages and working conditions.
Our government should, at the very least, ensure that its programs, including its visa programs, are not used to destroy the careers and financial security of its people.
Dear Hon. Thomas Perez Secretary United States Department of Labor,
We the undersigned ask that you investigate the abuse of H1B Visas at Southern California Edison (SCE), a public utility. This utility has laid off hundreds of its U.S. employees and replaced them with H-1B guestworkers employed by the India-based IT services firms Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.
Our government should, at the very least, ensure that its programs, including its visa programs, are not used to destroy the careers and financial security of its people.
I hope the Department of Labor intends to investigate and remedy this harm to skilled U.S. workers who have pursued education and training in a technical field, worked hard, and played by the rules.
Clearly, taking away the jobs, wages and benefits of the laid-off SCE employees does adversely affect their wages and working conditions.
Please, take the action necessary to remedy this wrong.
Thank you for your consideration.
Update #29 years ago
If possible, I'm trying to extend the deadline for one last push to reach 20,000 signatures, and then I am officially submitting it to the Labor Department. Hooray for everyone who has forwarded this important petition, educated others, and are fighting the good fight! We need you to care! Thank you!
Update #19 years ago
Thank you for raising awareness and signing! It will soon be submitted!
