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    Big Biz: US needs more less-skilled workers

    Big Biz: US needs more less-skilled workers





    Updated:


    Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 11:17 am EDT
    Eleven CEO's from some the nation's largest companies have signed on to a new letter to Congress urging passage of immigration reform that includes massive increases in low-skilled foreign workers. Signatories included McDonald's CEO Don Thompson, Loews Hotels and Resorts CEO, Paul Whetsell, Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith, Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, and Choice Hotels CEO Stephen Joyce.
    The letter comes just a few days after the May unemployment report was issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While last month's report showed a steady unemployment rate and more than 200,000 new jobs, the unemployment rate for Americans with no more than a high school education increased. Americans aged 25 and over with less than a high school degree increased in May from 8.9% to 9.1%, and Americans aged 25 and over with only a high school degree increased from 6.3% to 6.5%.
    The CEO's urge Congress to pass a workplace verification system even though E-Verify is already in place and used by many large employers. They also call for an amnesty for illegal aliens and massive increases in work permits for lesser-skilled workers because America no longer provides enough high school drop-outs. According to last Friday's BLS report, the labor participation rate for Americans 25 and over without a high school education is a meager 44.2%.
    Here's the full text of the CEO's letter:
    Dear Rep. ,
    We write as chief executive officers of American companies, some large, some small, to express our support for immigration reform. We urge Congress to act, the sooner, the better, to fix immigration so it works for our businesses and our communities.
    There are many things that are broken about the immigration system and many problems that need to be addressed.
    We need better border security and better immigration law enforcement, including in the workplace. Congress needs to provide American employers with a way to verify if new hires are who they say they are and are eligible to work.
    With secure borders in place, we will also need a practical solution for the millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Most unauthorized immigrants are otherwise law-abiding and doing needed work -- work that bolsters U.S. prosperity and sustains jobs for Americans. We should provide them with an opportunity to come forward and earn their way onto the right side of the law.
    But meaningful reform must look beyond today's unauthorized immigrants. The heart of reform is fixing the legal immigration system so it makes America more competitive in the future, admitting the immigrant workers we need and preventing future illegal immigration.
    All our companies rely on legal immigrants working alongside Americans to keep our businesses growing and contributing to the economy. This is a reality driven by demographics. In 1950, more than half of America's workers were high school dropouts willing to do physically demanding, low-skilled work. Today, the figure is less than 5 percent. But our businesses still need less-skilled workers -- and the need will only grow in years ahead. Baby boomers are retiring: 10,000 older workers are leaving the workforce every day. And after a long downturn, most of our operations are expanding and looking to hire workers.
    The problem: there is virtually no legal way for less-skilled foreigners without family in the U.S. to enter the country and work in year-round jobs -- effectively no temporary or permanent visas available for non-seasonal workers.
    Congress has an obligation to fill this gap -- we need a visa program for less-skilled foreign workers seeking year-round jobs. Employers should have to try to hire Americans first. But if they can't find enough U.S. workers, they should be able to hire foreign workers quickly, easily and legally.
    This is indispensable for our businesses, but it's also critical for the nation. Without a workable temporary visa program, the U.S. can have no hope of ending illegal immigration.
    An overwhelming majority of the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. today would rather be here legally. They mostly came or stayed illegally because there was no workable, lawful way for them to enter the country and work. And if we fail to create a legal way for similar workers to come to the U.S. in the future, we're going to find ourselves in exactly the same predicament 10 or 20 years from now -- wondering what to do about millions of new unauthorized immigrants.
    Our broken immigration system is not a problem that can be put off. The stakes could hardly be higher. We need Congress to act.
    Nelson R. Braddy, Jr.
    KING OF TEXAS
    ROOFING COMPANY, LP

    Stephen P. Joyce
    CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL

    Andrew F. Puzder
    CKE RESTAURANTS HOLDINGS, INC.

    Garen Cox
    MEDICALODGES, INC.

    Muhtar Kent
    THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

    John Rowe
    Chairman Emeritus
    EXELON

    Don Feltman
    ARTIS SENIOR LIVING

    Dave MacLennan
    CARGILL

    Donnie Smith
    TYSON FOODS

    Don Thompson
    MCDONALD'S CORPORATION

    Paul Whetsell
    LOEWS HOTELS & RESORTS
    jobless americanslow-skilled workersLegal ImmigrationBig Business




    44 Comments


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    Carl 2150 of CA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 12:28 pm EDT
    1


    "Our broken immigration system is not a problem that can be put off. The stakes could hardly be higher. We need Congress to act."
    The system in not broken. B.O. and his sheep are not enforcing our LAWS!
    MANDATORY NATION WIDE E-VERIFY NOW!
    A simple: BAH!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122841


    Roger 8615 of CA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 12:30 pm EDT
    2


    What we do in the future is what should have been done in the past. Enforce the law. The system is not broken, the system is not enforced.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122844


    Charles 3427 of NC Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 2:59 pm EDT
    3


    Except the problems will be bigger and the solutions will be more difficult to design and execute. Meaning they will hurt more, and if you recall the so-called "government shut down" of last October, you may recall that Obama is good at "Making it hurt."
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122867


    Lois 5267 of FL Fri, Jun 13th 2014 @ 1:32 pm EDT
    4


    Agreed. We have more than enough laws. What we need to do is enforce them.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123216



    A. 0571 of NC Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 12:32 pm EDT
    5


    It is very depressing to see the open border lobby winning the culture wars...
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122845


    Charles 3427 of NC Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 3:15 pm EDT
    6


    By these businesses own admission, they want to, and want government to encourage students to dropout. They themselves, are basically saying and want government to say, if you drop out of school we'll give you a job.
    If they supposedly can't get enough U.S. dropouts, let alone graduates, to perform these industry entry level jobs, perhaps they need less business and that I will certainly oblige.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122868



    Aaron 8129 of ID Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 12:58 pm EDT
    7


    Shouldn't we boycott these companies?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122853


    Caroline 7445 of CO Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 1:11 pm EDT
    8


    That's what I plan to do. Thank you, CEO's, for giving me the names of your anti-American worker companies.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122857


    Pamela 7352 of VA Fri, Jun 13th 2014 @ 6:24 am EDT
    9


    Ditto that. The consumer has power of choice. That list goes on my phone starting today.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123193



    Charles 3427 of NC Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 3:23 pm EDT
    10


    We should visit and/or call them occasionally and tell them why we have decided to take our business elsewhere. Can you imagine thousands of "customers" tying up McDonald's drive-thru just to tell them this, AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122869


    Carl 2150 of CA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 6:14 pm EDT
    11


    I am going to boycott. I just love my big mac and fries, cheese burger and large diet.
    But, I am not going there any more. Not until they stop supporting illegal aliens.
    We don't need illegal aliens, nor due we need legal immigration. What we do need is deport all illegals and stop legal immigration until we get our country back.
    MANDATORY NATION WIDE E-VERIFY NOW!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122892


    Aaron 8129 of ID Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 8:02 pm EDT
    12


    I applied for a job at our local McDonald's and they never even called me for a interview! I've been unemployed since march 5,2014. What's ironic is outside on their sign it always says "Now Hiring"! No such luck with our nation's rising unemployment!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122899




    William 7126 of PA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 1:06 pm EDT
    13


    At one time if you aided illegal aliens you went to jail. Now our very own Border Patrol is aided illegals.
    New laws: How about tying legal immigration to the level of unemployment/underemployment in America. High unemployment results in several years of reduced Visas/Green cards etc.
    Asylum is a joke and it should be stopped. No one who enters the country should be getting benefits that Americans can't get. Free rent, free medical, free education but not to Americans....
    Green Cards should have a time limit. Especially in the technical fields. The computer field has new programming languages being developed rather frequently. Why should someone be given a green card (free pass) for using a programming language that will only be relevant for a few years?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122856


    Gene 5798 of TX Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 1:48 pm EDT
    14


    Yep, it is still true, the older I get, the smarter Dad gets! The names and businesses of some of these companies are indicative of the self inflicted pain.
    We could'nt wait for Pop and his daughter to wait our table, then wait for Mom and the eldest daughter to prepare a meal. McDonald's solved the problem.
    Having a new home built in 12-18 months was not soon enough, 6 mos. demanded or even sooner if possible.
    Sometimes to find the solution, we have to recognize the cause. Welcome to the new America that we built!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122861


    Albert 3441 of PA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 8:44 pm EDT
    15


    Let’s call it McGreed - typical self-serving Chamber of Commerce-style propaganda. “Fixing the legal immigration system so it makes America more competitive in the future” means, in reality, saturating labor markets so that US workers compete more fiercely for jobs, which means lower wages for everyone. Promoting the massive importation of poorly-educated and trained foreigners is tantamount to endorsing the importation of poverty.
    "They mostly came or stayed illegally because there was no workable, lawful way for them to enter the country and work." This is like saying that the only reason that there are burglaries is that too many people are locking their doors.
    These Robber Barons should be ashamed of themselves, only they haven’t any sense of shame or any sense of social responsibility, either.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122864


    Mike 1111 of CO Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 3:58 pm EDT
    16


    This is Hogwash !
    We have near-record-high profits and near-record-low wages.
    We need to have reduced immigration, especially Illegals, coupled with wage raise and new hiring, resulting in living wages.
    You will find that corporations can easily afford it.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122871


    Andrew 0478 of PA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 4:04 pm EDT
    17


    This is a sheer disgrace. Just greedy corporations, they do not care about their own people. Any politician who supports what these corporations want in this amnesty will lose their office.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122872


    K. Denise 0150 of NC Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 4:18 pm EDT
    18


    There are already plenty of U.S. High School/Middle School dropouts available, who did not pass Bush's "No Child Left Behind" end-of-grade tests. I believe, the school drop out rate was near 90% if a student was failed twice. Failing 8th grade end-of-grade test was the most common dropout time.
    Could it be these companies just don't want to match these Social Security taxes as required for citizens of the U.S.?
    Regarding the companies that signed the letter above, can Americans spell B-O-Y-C-O-T-T?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122875


    Aaron 8129 of ID Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 4:27 pm EDT
    19


    Who are these companies? I caught Coke, McDonald's and Tyson food. Who are the other ones? I don't recognize their names. Thanks!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122877


    Lynda 1609 of MS Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 4:38 pm EDT
    20


    Just wait until the minimum wage is raised to $15 in all states!! These same businesses will be screaming that they can't make a profit.
    There are plenty of American citizens available for jobs. Not all students go to college or they don't secure a degree. Yes, baby boomers are retiring but many are continuing to work because of the economy.
    We just need to enforce existing laws!! Period!!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122880


    Alice 8079 of TX Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 8:52 pm EDT
    21


    Eric Cantor loses his primary to tea party challenger Dave Brat yea!!!!!!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122906


    George 9871 of GA Tue, Jun 10th 2014 @ 10:03 pm EDT
    22


    "Our broken immigration system is not a problem that can be put off". Oh really. The reason why our immigration system is broken is because our immigration laws are not enforced.It'll make it more broken hiring more illegals. What kind of stupid comment is that?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122916


    Carl 2150 of CA Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 1:27 am EDT
    23


    Excellent post! GEORGE. To the point and fact!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122952



    James 7427 of KS Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 10:47 am EDT
    24


    We have been told for years that it is a good thing for people to get an education. I agree. Now these people who signed this letter are saying that we need more alien workers because Americans are too educated. Really? You've gotta be kidding me! I think the odds are pretty good that these people will also turn right around and say that we need more skilled workers because Americans are too lazy to get an education.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/122986


    Gene 5798 of TX Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 2:46 pm EDT
    25


    Truthfully, I had more faith in Congress when there were fewer college educated! I will tell anyone that, and probably it is right that we had more real Americans then!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123025



    Dave 362 of WI Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 4:54 pm EDT
    26


    "They mostly came or stayed illegally because there was no workable, lawful way for them to enter the country and work."
    This is a lie, and these greedy clowns know it. We have the world's most generous immigration policy - more than 1 million legal immigrants a year - that will destroy this republic if we don't soon sharply reduce the numbers. I wouldn't be surprised if each of these CEOs have programs designed to help the nation's "disadvantaged youth." The unemployment rate among these American kids is off the charts, and these companies want to hire more foreigners to further reduce what few employment opportunities exist?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123045


    Alan 4172 of MA Thu, Jun 12th 2014 @ 7:04 pm EDT
    27


    You are right, these corporations are lying.
    If the companies would offer a wage that represented the true cost of labor they would not need to import cheap labor. They could attract and hire American kids or adults.
    If they can't "get" enough workers then they are not offering decent wages. They need to offer wages up till they get the number of workers they need for their businesses.
    A tight labor pool (which we do not have at all now) is a workers best friend. Flooding the country with foreigners is definitely not in the best interest of the vast majority of Americans.

    It does serve the ruling elite though. Both parties.
    I call it the bipartisan sellout.
    Comprehensive immigration reform CIR should be named
    Comprehensive capitulation-- to Corporations, foreigners and despicable subversives who benefit from this sellout.
    Who does NOT benefit from this? The American people.

    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123152



    Antoinette 1458 of CA Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 5:13 pm EDT
    28


    Plan on sending e-mails to these CEO's and our family will be boycotting their businesses.
    Thank you Numbers USA for the info.

    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123051


    Pierre 4499 of CA Wed, Jun 11th 2014 @ 6:38 pm EDT
    29


    There is a much simpler solution to the labor shortage -- pay more. Improve benefits and working conditions. Costco is your example.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123068


    Aaron 8129 of ID Thu, Jun 12th 2014 @ 1:06 am EDT
    30


    Joe Biden: U.S. needs ‘constant, unrelenting stream’ of immigrants
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/11/joe-biden-us-needs-const...
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123091


    Lee 0767 of CA Thu, Jun 12th 2014 @ 11:15 am EDT
    31


    We DON'T need less skilled workers we need to STOP extending unemployment!! Why are politicians so stupid!! Why work when you get paid to not work. Days are gone when people would look for jobs, because our unemployment has ZERO accountability!!
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123110


    Ruth 4864 of FL Thu, Jun 12th 2014 @ 8:41 pm EDT
    32


    Does it really surprise anyone that big business is driving this country? Wouldn't surprise me if they are encouraging the government to allow illegals to enter the country and legalization for all. Need those big campaign contributions, right?
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123172


    Robert 8235 of ID Fri, Jun 13th 2014 @ 8:39 am EDT
    33


    The illegals do nothing but drive down the pay scale they already have done it in my Union where we lost 5.00 per hour and about 2 thirds of the workers are Mexicans, plus there quality of work isn't all that good.
    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123203


    Lois 5267 of FL Fri, Jun 13th 2014 @ 1:29 pm EDT
    34


    I can speak from experience. I have never collected Unemployment Insurance and I applied for all kinds of jobs.
    I applied for a job picking oranges, but was told the immigrants could do it better and cheaper. (I hadn't asked how much the job paid.)I finally got a job in a candle making business, part-time, minimum wage and no benefits. After about 4 months I found a part-time, slightly better minimum-wage and no benefits job in a motel as a desk clerk. Eventually I was able to get a full-time job in a bank that was just over minimum wage, a week paid vacation, and a very poor medical policy that I paid for but wasn't good for much.
    I have no sympathy for today's "workers" who won't take a job because it is beneath them and manage to stay on Unemployment Insurance indefinitely.



    Permalink: https://www.numbersusa.com/comment/123215




    Last edited by kathyet2; 06-13-2014 at 02:46 PM.

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