IT union head opposes H-1B increase

24.04.2006

What do you think can be done to help workers who have lost jobs to offshore outsourcing? One thing we are trying to do is get legislation passed around Trade Adjustment Assistance. This has been a big issue for white-collar workers. If they lose their jobs to offshore outsourcing, the government has said that if they don't make goods or material, they could not get access [to] TAA, which will give them benefits for retraining, health care, re-employment and moving expenses.

Why don't technical workers get the same access to the benefits as manufacturing workers? When [Congress] passed the Trade Adjustment Assistance act, it only believed that manufacturing workers would ever be impacted. Manufacturing workers are more organized. It's not a coincidence that a heavily unionized industry such as manufacturing was able to get government programs for workers. Technology workers are just beginning to get organized.