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OhioChick

(23,218 posts)
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 01:38 AM Mar 2016

Sen. Durbin calls Abbott Labs' IT layoffs 'harsh and insensitive’

Source: Computerworld

Employees are fearful as cuts loom and training of replacements begins

Feb 29, 2016 2:48 PM PT

Abbott Labs, a global healthcare company, is laying off about 180 IT employees after inking an agreement with Wipro, a major India-based IT services firm, to take over some IT services.

The employees were told about the planned cuts on Feb. 22; their last day will be April 22.

Abbott is based in Illinois, which is also the home of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who has been a long-time advocate for H-1B reforms and a co-sponsor of legislation with another visa reformer, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

In a letter Monday to Abbott CEO Miles White, Durbin implored him "to reconsider this plan and retain these U.S. workers."

Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/article/3039353/it-careers/sen-durbin-calls-abbott-labs-it-layoffs-harsh-and-insensitive.html

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Sen. Durbin calls Abbott Labs' IT layoffs 'harsh and insensitive’ (Original Post) OhioChick Mar 2016 OP
Cut the number of H1-B Visas rpannier Mar 2016 #1
What does he expect? LittleGirl Mar 2016 #2
Try this: Cut it out! Kip Humphrey Mar 2016 #3
+10,000 nt Live and Learn Mar 2016 #6
Bet their shareholders won't lose any sleep over it elmac Mar 2016 #4
Same thing is happening where my wife works. C Moon Mar 2016 #5
+10,000 nt Live and Learn Mar 2016 #7
This is globalization, leading us to neo-serfdom. (nt) apnu Mar 2016 #11
Agree C Moon Mar 2016 #17
we outsourced our IT work to Manila a few years ago RussBLib Mar 2016 #15
They did the same thing at my wife's work. She said it was awful. C Moon Mar 2016 #19
NO MORE LAYOFFS!!! NT retrowire Mar 2016 #8
So, has anyone examined how Third-Way Durbin Le Taz Hot Mar 2016 #9
yes mtasselin Mar 2016 #10
Durbin's not bad... he's more of a old school democrat who follows his masters orders... FighttheFuture Mar 2016 #13
Done with Durbin in so many ways . Person 2713 Mar 2016 #18
Cuz that's what the U.S. does best. Offshore or H1B our jobs. nt valerief Mar 2016 #12
Quit buying their products. Loki Mar 2016 #14
180 new Trump voters. EL34x4 Mar 2016 #16
Why would you think these layed off workers would vote for Trump? lark Mar 2016 #20
Outsource management for change docping Mar 2016 #21

LittleGirl

(8,261 posts)
2. What does he expect?
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 02:09 AM
Mar 2016

IT outsourcing has been going on for decades! Decades!

There is no shortage of skilled American IT labor. They have been laid off and told they are too old and too expensive to hire. It's b.s.

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
5. Same thing is happening where my wife works.
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 03:00 AM
Mar 2016

They were bought out by a company overseas, and tomorrow are having a "meeting."
The stoned-faced people in suits and ties (a la Office Space) have been there for the past month "accessing things."

Buyouts and mergers are out of control. I've been through a couple in the past 15 years and they always amount to mega layoffs and skeleton crews for those remaining. Eventually, the bought out company is dissolved.

It's nothing more than a bigger company destroying the competition.

RussBLib

(8,984 posts)
15. we outsourced our IT work to Manila a few years ago
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 12:37 PM
Mar 2016

Every single person in this multi-national corporation has to call Manila when they have an IT issue, except for my department, which fought like hell to keep two IT workers on-site and in our Department.

I've lost track of how many times I have heard people complaining about the IT people not being able to speak English very clearly, or interminable wait times on hold.

But it saves the company SO. MUCH. MONEY.

I cannot wait to retire and get the hell out of here.

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
19. They did the same thing at my wife's work. She said it was awful.
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 02:03 PM
Mar 2016

I failed to mention that they also told all the employees that pensions will be eliminated next year.
Pretty frocked up people who run big corporations—I don't even think they are people.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
9. So, has anyone examined how Third-Way Durbin
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 06:28 AM
Mar 2016

voted on the H1B visa increases? If he voted "yes" I would think it's time to primary a Senator.

 

FighttheFuture

(1,313 posts)
13. Durbin's not bad... he's more of a old school democrat who follows his masters orders...
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 11:17 AM
Mar 2016

You can do a google search on his efforts to curb H1B's "durbin h1b visa vote".

SENS. GRASSLEY, DURBIN INTRODUCE NEW BILL TO LIMIT H-1B VISA ABUSE

This link is interesting because of the video in it, a speaker is showing executives how to scam the H1B system rules.

I say he's more old school (70-80's Dem), not really DLC/Third way. But, being the Senate Whip for the party, he also follows his masters orders (e.g. Obama, who is more aligned with DLC/Third way) and says stupid shit like this when Obama was pushing Grand Bargain on Entitlements and SS back in 2009-2010:

DURBIN SAYS “BLEEDING HEART LIBERALS” SHOULD BE OPEN TO MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY CUTS

So, like most politicians he's a mixed bag, but all around better than a number of them on the Democratic side. Of course, the real test is if the Dems get some measure of control back, how they act then. It's easy to push bills that sound great but have a snowball's chance in hell in the current environment. When they had power after 2008, they did some good things, but Reid would not change the filibuster rules so many things were stymied. Let's hope all our efforts have results after the elections and that is when they need to be really evaluated and DINO's ejected. I think Durbin will survive.

IMHO.

lark

(23,003 posts)
20. Why would you think these layed off workers would vote for Trump?
Tue Mar 1, 2016, 02:11 PM
Mar 2016

Trump's all in on HIb visas and is all about cutting HR costs for large corporations, even suggesting American workers need to work for same wages as Chinese. Trump should be the last one in the world they'd gravitate to.

docping

(1 post)
21. Outsource management for change
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 09:09 AM
Mar 2016

Outsourcing will continue until companies start outsourcing the management. If companies want to save their money they should look into offloading the highly paid, useless, know nothing management and replacing them with offshore folks who will work for less. Just my two cents.

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