Posted on May 28, 2016
Farmers Wait, And Wait, For Guest Workers Amid H-2A Visa Delays
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I know a lot of folks are not in favor of bringing in more immigrants but having worked in tech, the current American workforce doesn't have enough skilled technical workers to fill our growing needs. And with almost 2/3 of H1B visas being denied due to limits, smaller companies are losing out bad in this environment as larger companies have the money to sponsor many more people than they need to win the lottery system, which unfortunately over burdens the system and only makes it worse. The problem is people are so caught up in the illegal immigrants issue that folks trying to do the right thing are getting screwed
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SSG Joshua Billingsley Unfortunately the Xenophobia in this Country is even impacting those here Legally.
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Maj John Bell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - I am the son of a legal Mexican immigrant, who became a US citizen. I am in favor of air tight borders and an intelligent immigration and international tourism policy. No one should cross our borders until due diligence has been conducted on why they are entering the United States and what is the likelihood that they will depart when required to do so. That is what people have to do when they apply for visas at US Embassies and Consulates.
The fact that there is a land bridge into the US and porous border for people entering from the North or South should not grant an exemption. If someone has gone to the trouble to enter the US illegally, it is a fair indicator that they will follow our laws when it suits them, and ignore our laws when it suits them. Which indicates to me they should not be granted a Visa. Does that make me xenophobic?
The fact that employers cannot find skilled technical workers means that they need to put in some effort. American employers must take the initiative, find suitable candidates and conduct in-house training instead of hoping the Visa fairy drops a trained candidate into their lap. Imagine that! hiring, training, and giving opportunities to solid American workers that are displaced because of advancing technology, or American businesses moving overseas, or economic inability to self-fund their own training.
The fact that there is a land bridge into the US and porous border for people entering from the North or South should not grant an exemption. If someone has gone to the trouble to enter the US illegally, it is a fair indicator that they will follow our laws when it suits them, and ignore our laws when it suits them. Which indicates to me they should not be granted a Visa. Does that make me xenophobic?
The fact that employers cannot find skilled technical workers means that they need to put in some effort. American employers must take the initiative, find suitable candidates and conduct in-house training instead of hoping the Visa fairy drops a trained candidate into their lap. Imagine that! hiring, training, and giving opportunities to solid American workers that are displaced because of advancing technology, or American businesses moving overseas, or economic inability to self-fund their own training.
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SFC Josh Billingsley
Maj John Bell I would agree with you except I have seen report after report that American Universities are not producing enough skilled talent to fill the labor void we are forced to rely on immigrants who come here legally until America either steps up its game or we come to terms that we have always gained strength from LEGAL immigration and that we need to what we can to bring these skilled workers in. I am in favor of detailed back ground checks, etc. However, we are capped at a very real 85k H1B Visas every year, which is bachelor degree holders ready to be sponsored for roles requiring at least a Bachelor's. This country gained it's strength from immigration, and I feel that we need to get a real feel for and differentiate an qualified legal immigrant and someone who has sought entry illegally
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Maj John Bell
SFC Josh Billingsley - Agreed on the difference between legal and illegal
immigration.
Strip away the English 101, Psychology 101, and esoteric classes unrelated to the technical skills core curriculum. For most degrees students can remain undeclared until the 2nd semester of their sophomore year with no impact whatsoever. Changing one's major later is only a big problem if it is a huge shift, during the 2nd semester of the junior year.
Remember, higher education is BIG business with its own set of lobbyists. The requirement for a university education is in many (not all) cases a self-imposed gunshot wound. If that wound is required for Federal, or State certification, changes relevant to professional standards could be legislated. In cases where professional associations require a degree, the standard should include traditional degree programs or alternatively an internship and written and practical skills test developed jointly between employers and the professional associations.
Employers can teach the necessary skills for most (not all) technical positions that require a Bachelors degree in a few months. Over the next couple of years of employment, Masters and Doctorate Degree levels of education/training could be developed in conjunction with colleges and universities. Tax credits could be used to subsidize these employer led initiatives.
There are ways to write employment contracts in most states that severely mitigate the risks of training someone who then moves on before you recoup your investment. States that do not have laws that afford some protection will quickly develop such laws when they are faced with the flight of businesses and high paying jobs from their jurisdiction.
The true constrictions on developing a skilled technical labor force are:
__ a combination of a poor public school system and poor parental emphasis on basic education that allows children to matriculate out of school without the necessary education, academic discipline, and work ethic to be competitive. Kids that are disinterested, disruptive, and ill-disciplined should be placed in a program literally called "POVERTY BOUND KNUCKLEHEAD SCHOOL". I'd even recommend an alternative, lower minimum wage for knuckleheads to subsidize employers for the trouble of hiring knuckleheads. Knuckleheads can re-enter the free public education system when they are ready to stop being stupid, uneducated knuckleheads. Resources and emphasis could be used to reinforce success instead of marginally "preventing" failure.
__ The artificially high cost of education created by artificially created demand (i.e. government guaranteed loans for everyone) , and
__ A lack of viable alternatives to acquiring competitive knowledge and skills.
immigration.
Strip away the English 101, Psychology 101, and esoteric classes unrelated to the technical skills core curriculum. For most degrees students can remain undeclared until the 2nd semester of their sophomore year with no impact whatsoever. Changing one's major later is only a big problem if it is a huge shift, during the 2nd semester of the junior year.
Remember, higher education is BIG business with its own set of lobbyists. The requirement for a university education is in many (not all) cases a self-imposed gunshot wound. If that wound is required for Federal, or State certification, changes relevant to professional standards could be legislated. In cases where professional associations require a degree, the standard should include traditional degree programs or alternatively an internship and written and practical skills test developed jointly between employers and the professional associations.
Employers can teach the necessary skills for most (not all) technical positions that require a Bachelors degree in a few months. Over the next couple of years of employment, Masters and Doctorate Degree levels of education/training could be developed in conjunction with colleges and universities. Tax credits could be used to subsidize these employer led initiatives.
There are ways to write employment contracts in most states that severely mitigate the risks of training someone who then moves on before you recoup your investment. States that do not have laws that afford some protection will quickly develop such laws when they are faced with the flight of businesses and high paying jobs from their jurisdiction.
The true constrictions on developing a skilled technical labor force are:
__ a combination of a poor public school system and poor parental emphasis on basic education that allows children to matriculate out of school without the necessary education, academic discipline, and work ethic to be competitive. Kids that are disinterested, disruptive, and ill-disciplined should be placed in a program literally called "POVERTY BOUND KNUCKLEHEAD SCHOOL". I'd even recommend an alternative, lower minimum wage for knuckleheads to subsidize employers for the trouble of hiring knuckleheads. Knuckleheads can re-enter the free public education system when they are ready to stop being stupid, uneducated knuckleheads. Resources and emphasis could be used to reinforce success instead of marginally "preventing" failure.
__ The artificially high cost of education created by artificially created demand (i.e. government guaranteed loans for everyone) , and
__ A lack of viable alternatives to acquiring competitive knowledge and skills.
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What a great opportunity to compel/train/force native born Americans to learn how to report for work/get off welfare/learn the misery of actually working/ learn a skill to work elsewhere than in a field!
I have crawled on my hands and knees weeding onions for 50 cents an hour! (1947)! Not a career job, but someone had to do it!
I have crawled on my hands and knees weeding onions for 50 cents an hour! (1947)! Not a career job, but someone had to do it!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Nice! I'm not going to hold my breath though. I'm rather happy playing in the Dirt to this day. Right Now I have One Grape Vine, 1 Blackberry Cane, 3 Raspberry Bushes and 4 Raspberry Canes along with 4 tomato plants. One whole corner of Chocolate Mint, Spearmint and Peppermint.
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Yet everyone is doing everything they can to get them deported. We are going to starve.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Yeah, Unfortunately we need those folks to pick our fruits and veggies. Hopefully it will get straightened out. I want some American Strawberries. I want some American Raspberries, Blackberries & Grapes from Oregon and Washington and I love me some Pacific Northwest Wine and Beer.
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SPC Michelle Rehman
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - if they didn't make it so difficult to achieve legal status people wouldn't be making such a big deal out of this I lived in Nuevo Laredo MX. And you have to have the same version of legal residency and they gave me mine within a month of being there. And they were really nice to me they didn't call me names like I have heard some people call my Hispanic friends at Walmart here in Wichita Kansas. It was disgusting
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SPC Michelle Rehman - Oh Yeah it is pretty bad here and the Ignorance and Hate directed at our Significant Mexican community can get pretty ugly. Lots of folks here have ID Cards from the Mexican Consulate whatever that means I don't know. All I know is that they are Human Beings that should be treated with dignity and they are doing the jobs that the Rest of us won't and some of them are managing to send money home with what little they are making. I love the Mexican Influence here in Kansas City and what they bring to our culture. Same with Oregon where my Daughter and her Crew Live.
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