An American can make a good living in the IT service and IT support industry. But some worry it won’t be for long. In San Francisco, a news story may be confirming our worries. IT workers: Is our industry at risk?
So here’s what’s happening. At the University of San Francisco, 79 IT workers lost their jobs. Furthermore, those jobs are going to an farm owned by India. The IT workers found out Tuesday, Feb. 28. Also, they’re not being quiet about it. Their spokesperson, Bob Zhang, complained companies and universities do this to replace high paying jobs. They also use the H-1B visa program to send jobs to foreign workers, according to Zhang.
Here’s another reason these layoffs make news. It’s rare for a university to outsource jobs. The now unemployed IT workers picket and try to retain their jobs. However, they are unsuccessful. Consequently, the U-San Francisco discussed Zhang’s complaints. They said the layoffs will save the university over $33 million. They also said the school needs to save as much money as they can to fight rising costs. But that’s little comfort or excuse to these workers. Kurt Ho, a former IT employee, said he made $110,000 a year with U-San Francisco. He said the workers on this farm will make a fraction of that.
But it’s not just the universities that worry. It workers seem to be struck on both sides. Not only are IT workers losing their jobs to robots, and overseas, but to those who will take them for far less. Keep in mind some of these former employees are in their 50s and 60s. Do you know how hard it is for someone of that age to get a new job? And you’re not going to convince me they’re not enough tech based jobs for everyone. No university should be snatching jobs from one group ?and give it to others. You have 79 people whose lives are now on the line. And for what? So the university can save a little bit of money? That’s not right. Will this be a national trend?