Molinaro condemns "alarming" new trend in government of displacing City employees with foreign workers
"The H-1B visa program should complement the U.S. workforce, not replace it"
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Citing an "alarming new trend in government of displacing qualified City employees with foreign computer workers at half the salary," Borough President James P. Molinaro today urged Schools Chancellor Joel Klein to "revisit" a $95 million contract he will reportedly award to a Florida-based computer firm that employs upwards of 60 foreign workers under temporary H-1B visas.
"Outsourcing is an absolute outrage that deprives qualified American workers of their jobs in these tough economic times," Molinaro wrote in a letter to Chancellor Klein, citing recent newspaper reports of outside consultants performing computer work at City agencies that their own employees could be doing.
In June, the New York Post reported that IBM transported consultants from overseas to improve the City of New York's financial data base. Although the Department of Finance had employees who could do the job, they ended up having to translate for the foreigners who lacked English skills.
Last week, the Daily News reported that the Department of Education will soon hand a new five-year contract to Future Technology Associates to integrate the school system's financial software with those of other City agencies. According to the News, most of the FTA workers hold H-1B non-immigrant visas for foreigners with special skills.
"In today's recession, with the national unemployment rate at a whopping 9.5 percent, Congress must pass the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act now to stop the outrageous outsourcing of skilled American jobs and discrimination against American workers," Molinaro wrote to Klein. "The H-1B visa program should complement the U.S. workforce, not replace it.
"I believe this contract is simply bad for the DOE, bad for the City of New York, and bad for the USA. I respectfully request that you revisit this contract," Molinaro concluded.