AEA Protest against H-1B

Date: Friday, November 15, 2002 12:58 PM

H-1B and JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

I was asked to get this message out but I couldn't due to my system crash. I
will report what happened. These AEA members (http://www.aea.org/) are doing
something about H-1B and they are just about the only organization that is.

Following this is a synopsis on what happened at their last protest.

I hope some of you will support them by joining. With more members and money
you can bet they will stir the pot to the boiling point.

I need your help again. Mr. Jim McDonald, the D.C. Director of AEA,
is organizing another protest in front of the ITAA headquarters in
Arlington, Virginia on November 14, 2002. AEA needs people; techies in
particular, to participate in this protest. Would you kindly help to
spread the message? See below for detailed information.

THURSDAY, NOV 14, Demonstration, 1400 Wilson Blvd,
[Cross Street is OAK Street]
in front of ITAA Headquarters

We NEEED some programmers. You do not need to show your face to

camera

but need to be willing to talk with reporter, tell your tale, and

expect ONLY your first name to be used in any article. We will be
greeting Government reps, 'high ranking officials' of the State
Department, INS and Department of Labor as they go in

to meet with HARRIS MILLER, and ITAA members, about ITAA member

problems in quickly bringing in foreigners to take your jobs.

Jim McDonald e-mail: jgmcd45@netscape.net
703-241-9249 703-605-5144
THIS ONE IS IN OUR LAP AND AN EASY JOB. I HANDLE PRESS RELEASE,

POLICE PERMISSION, SIGNS (well, with Richard Tax's help), and HANDOUTS
(once again with Richard Tax's help.). Just need you. We supply
bodies for bulk, but need some of you with stories, your stories. We can
also use list of names and phone numbers of those willing to be
interviewed over the phone.

HERE IS THE OCT 11, Northern Virginia JOURNAL article about our October 10
demonstration in front of ITAA Headquarters. Page 3, and Eye Catching
Location. The Journal has a paid circulation of 100,000 plus, similar to
that of the Washington Times.

VISA PROGRAM PROTESTED in ARLINGTON [Big and Bold Print]
Demonstrators say H1-B causes Americans to lose jobs to foreigners

by Tom Steinfeldt

Two groups opposed to a visa program they say has increased unemployment
among technically skilled American workers demonstrated Thursday outside
the Information Technology Association of America's Arlington County
headquarters.

Members of the Virginia Coalition for Immigration Reform and the American
Engineering Association advocated the elimination of H1-B visas, which they
charge cause skilled Americans to lose jobs to foreign workers who accept a
lower salary.

About a dozen, mostly middle-aged men, waved signs outside the trade
association's Rosslyn building for an hour, protesting such job losses in
the information technology industry. About 700,000 American workers have
lost jobs to H1-B visa holders, coalition President Michael Crowe said.

The demonstration was intended to coincide with an ITAA meeting with
officials from the US Labor Department, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and the State Department. But that meeting was rescheduled several
weeks ago before the protest was known to ITAA, association President
Harris N. Miller said Wednesday.

The meeting, now slated for November, will address business immigration
issues but not numbers of visa holders, which Miller said is an issue for
the government, but not his association. [Please, hold your laughter!]

The coalition and engineering association distributed fliers accusing ITAA
of plotting to replace American workers with foreigners who will work for
lower wages. Another demonstration is planned in concert with the November
meeting, Crowe said.

The groups want government officials and big business interests to be aware
of opposition to the visas. They seek, but don't expect, to engage them in
talks about the issue, he said.

'They're not going to want to associate with us, ' Crowe said.

'We're aware, we're watching and we're going to continue to watch,' he said.

Miller did not object to the groups' rights to demonstrated, but disputed
their claim that ITAA promotes paying foreign workers lower salaries which
cause skilled Americans to lose jobs.'

ITAA will continue to advocate the right for companies to hire foreign
workers who earn the same or more than U.S. workers when demand exists,
Miller said. U.S. companies use fewer information technology workers from
abroad when unemployment is up, he said.

Preliminary State Department figures show 44,000 fewer H1-B visas were
issued in federal fiscal year 2002, which ended Oct 1, compared with the
prior year. In fiscal 2002, 118,000 H1-B visas were issued versus 162,000
in fiscal 2001.

More than 44,000 of these workers in fiscal 2002 came from India, by far
the most of any country. China was second with 7,600 visa holders.

In fiscal 2000, 133,000 of the visas were issued. The government limits
H1-B visas to 195,000 per year.

The coalition, a nonprofit immigration reform advocacy group, and the Fort
Worth, Texas-based engineering association said about 1.3 million people
now are using the visas.

John Miano, chairman of the New Jersey-based Programmers Guild, a
1,300-member organization for computer programmers, estimates only about
600,000 foreigners are using the visas. The visas are valid up to three
years with a potential three-year extension.

'I personally think the visas should be done away with,' said Jim McDonald
and American Engineering Association director who helped organize the
demonstration. A federal employee, McDonald said he supports hiring
foreign workers with specialized skills that are in great demand, but said
too may qualified American workers are being bypassed by the visa holders.

'We think if the American people knew, they would not be in support of this
program', he said.

END OF ARTICLE
I feel that Tom Steinfeldt did a great job. No, I do not think I was
quoted or paraphrased in a completely accurate fashion, but that is the way
of journalism.
If you would like to make a quick call complimenting TOM STEINFELDT, please
call 703-846-8344 at any time, day or night, as the number has voice mail.

THURSDAY, NOV 14, 1:15pm Demonstration, 1400 Wilson Blvd,
[Cross Street is OAK Street]
in front of ITAA Headquarters

MIKE and all you good folks
We NEED some programmers.
You do not need to show your face to camera
but need to be willing to talk with reporter,
tell your tale, and expect ONLY your first name to be used
in any article.
We will be greeting Government reps, 'high ranking officials'
of the State Department, INS and Department of Labor as they go in
to meet with HARRIS MILLER, and ITAA members, about
ITAA member problems in quickly bringing in foreigners to take your

jobs.

Jim McDonald
703-241-9249 703-605-5144
THIS ONE IS IN OUR LAP AND AN EASY JOB. I HANDLE PRESS RELEASE, POLICE

PERMISSION, SIGNS

(well, with Richard Tax's help), and HANDOUTS (once again with Richard

Tax's help.). Just

need you. We supply bodies for bulk, but need some of you with

stories, your stories.
We can also use list of names and phone numbers of those willing to be
interviewed over the phone.

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