Nielsen controversy (Oldsmar: apartment complex, rent, unemployment rate)

[tjax1000]

I saw an article in a trade publication about a big controversy with Nielsen in Oldsmar. The long and the short of it is that Nielsen got some considerable tax breaks to built a tech center and bring in local jobs. Now, they are laying off the local employees and replacing them with Indian workers, apparently from an Indian body shop that brings over workers from India working on H-1B visas.

The article is here: Tax break fuels anger over outsourcing-related layoffs in Fla.

As a software engineer, I feel that what Nielsen has done is despicable. I have nothing against careful, measured immigration, but the H-1B program is doing nothing these days but providing a quick route to flood the tech market with foreign workers. Many of these folks are the modern day equivalent of indentured servants. The golden days of the tech industry are over with- it is now actually getting hard for IT folks to find jobs. And we also are producing plenty of graduates who are looking for work. I've seen the work that these body shops do- it is truly second class. The companies that engage these folks are merely looking for a short term away to make the books look better.

BUT, even if you disagree with my opinion above, keep in mind that Nielsen was given incentives and in return it was expected that they'd be an asset to the community. If you live in this area, hopefully you are not pleased about the 3 million that you gave away, only to see a bunch of your neighbors left without jobs.

[duttygal86]

I work next door to Nielson and have seen a rotating group of Indians working there, changing about every six months....I even think Nielsen might have made some "living arrangement" for them at the apartment complex down the street.

[tjax1000]

Interesting, I've heard that "living arrangements" are part of the deal so I'm not surprised. Given the state of affairs and our unemployment rate, I think it is probably time to repeal or amend the H1-B visa program.

I think Nielson has been trying to hire a local software manager type for quite some time based on the listings I've seen on Dice. No wonder nobody wants to work there.

[duttygal86]

Yeah H1-B needs to go. That particular apartment complex used to have pretty high rent, but now that alot of the Indians have left, they have slashed there rent amounts. Makes me wonder exactly how many apartments were under contract? Now If we can just get the company I work for to bring back the 10k jobs from India!