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  • From: "Toni Hawryluk" <tonihawr AT msn.com>
  • To: "Homestead mailing list" <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Homestead] bye-bye job ....
  • Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 16:35:26 -0700

from another list : GAO weighs in on U.S. exporting jobs
WashTech News
SEATTLE - Offshore outsourcing of U.S. jobs is a growing trend
that cannot be ignored, according to a final report released today by the
General Accounting Office (GAO). The GAO plans at least four additional
studies in the coming months to further investigate this issue.


The GAO got involved after two Seattle-based labor unions,
SPEEA-IFPTE and WashTech/CWA requested congressional action and research into
the explosive new trend of high-end manufacturing and service job moving
overseas.


"This study is a good first step," said Charles Bofferding,
executive director of SPEEA. "It recognizes that outsourcing is growing and a
troubling trend for our workers and our country."


"The GAO has clearly stated in this report that outsourcing of
U.S. jobs abroad can not be ignored, and the government needs to act in order
to address the issue in terms of data collection and policy solutions," said
Marcus Courtney, WashTech president.


Released in Washington, D.C., the study was made at the request
of Washington state Reps. Adam Smith (D-9th District) and Jay Inslee (D-1st
District). The congressmen were prompted to make the request by the Society
of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001
and the Washington Alliance of Technical Workers (WashTech), CWA Local 37083.


SPEEA represents technical workers and engineers primarily at The
Boeing Company. WashTech represents high-tech workers in the software
industry. Both unions have experienced union members losing jobs as companies
send more work to lower cost workers overseas.


The study does not make recommendations regarding the outsourcing
trend. Union officials said they will continue to work with lawmakers to find
solutions that encourage corporations to keep jobs in the U.S.


"We thank our congressional leaders for pushing for this study
and welcome their help as the study continues," said Bofferding.


The actual scope of the study was reduced by the GAO to look
primarily at service jobs. The GAO plans four additional studies to examine
corporate offshore outsourcing's effect on federal procurement, trade and
international affairs, critical capital/infrastructure and income security
for workers. No release dates have been set for the additional reports.


In addition to job loss, the unions are concerned about the
transfer of technology that occurs when corporations send high-level work
overseas.


"Not only is Boeing creating jobs overseas, we are teaching them
how to make airplanes," said Dave Landress, a member of SPEEA's Executive
Board. "We're creating another competitor for our own products."


The GAO report, entitled: International Trade: Current Government
Data Provide Limited Insight into Outsourcing of Services was scheduled for
posting at: www.gao.gov<http://www.gao.gov/>
<http://www.gao.gov/<http://www.gao.gov/>> .





  • [Homestead] bye-bye job ...., Toni Hawryluk, 09/22/2004

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