I guess I don't quite understand why the employment situation of
illegal aliens in the construction and food processing industry
reflects NEGATIVELY on the moral character and industriousness of
U.S. computer workers.
I just don't see how the current situation proves that "we have bred
laziness and inefficiency" into computer programmers and knowledge
workers and that they "think they do not have to work to earn a living."
I thought that the original point was that computer workers were,
basically, asked to work on hardship schedules without extra pay, and
under constant threat of being downsized or outsourced. These people
are computer professionals who have put in quite a lot of effort to
get trained for what they do, usually at their own expense. Instead,
they're being ripped off to pile up surplus value in the bank
accounts of their corporate employers.
Why shouldn't they be distressed about their employment situation?
If the "best practices" standard is to employ computer professionals
under the same personnel practices as illegal aliens in a
slaughterhouse--and then tell them "my way or the highway"--then
we're in more trouble than we thought. (This has echoes of labor
practices in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, too;
remember "If you don't come in on Sunday, don't come in on Monday"?)
It bothers me when I see corporations using HR practices that make
them look a lot like turn-of-the-century coal barons. (You can look
that up if you like--I'm sure Wikipedia has something on them.)
--Constance Warner
On Nov 26, 2009, at 6:50 PM, Rev. Stewart Marshall wrote:
I cannot speak to the construction industry but can tell you about
the food processing industry.
When I worked for a major animal processing plant they had a 100%
turn around of personnel every year.
Of that number the immigrants were the ones who stayed while the
Anglos and African Americans were the ones who rotated out with
regularity.
I trained with line workers (I was an industrial chaplain) and a
number of folks dropped out when they toured the facility and then
dropped while working on the lines.
Regularly when overtime was offered the Hispanics offered to work
it. When the line would shut down early the Hispanics asked for
extra work to get more hours.
Part of the problem is that we have bread laziness and inefficiency
into our folks letting them think that they do not have to work to
earn a living.
One of my members works for a contractor and is represented by a
union. He said one of the problems with is union is that it uses
LCD to make the standards. Lowest Common Denominator.
Now understand I do not endorse moving work off shore and overseas
to make the bottom line. Where I live most (or should I say all)
the mils and fabric processing lines have closed and the companies
have shuttered many many factories.
But we also are the culprits, we want everything at the lowest
price possible. We are willing to spend the least to get what we
want.
The top brands of cars bought on the clunkers rebates were mostly
foreign. Now everyone has touted the reliability and quality of
foreign automobiles. However recent surveys have found that a
number of US manufacturers rate very high.
So often it is a perceived problem not a real one.
So before we start making snide comments let us make sure we are
not also part of the problem.
Stewart
At 04:20 PM 11/26/2009, you wrote:
Of course the "won't show up" excuse is dishonest nonsense. These
dishonest employers want to employ the "Mexicans" because they can
pay
them substandard wages, give them little or no benefits, and demand
that they put in extra time off the clock. Sometimes they don't even
pay the wages that are owed. To keep this on topic: a few years
ago M$
was sued over their labor practices, not as bad as those in the
construction industry, but plenty despicable.
Rev. Stewart A. Marshall
mailto:popoz...@earthlink.net
Prince of Peace www.princeofpeaceozark.org
Ozark, AL SL 82
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