Re: OT offshoring

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

"Rick Bishop" <bishopr -at- jcdc -dot- jobcorps -dot- org> wrote on 01/07/2004 05:36:37 PM:
>    The employees in Mexico were living in tin and
> clapboard shacks just outside the refinery gate with their
> sewage mixing with that of the plant in a concrete ditch.
> Only a few electric lights were in evidence, certainly no
> new pick-up trucks or washer/dryer combos.
>    The price of gasoline in the US then: $.30, in Mexico: $.60.
> When all the borders are down, where will you live?
> Rick

To be devil's advocate, I can't help thinking "If the borders DON'T come down
where will THEY live".

While I understand the disgust at the living conditions many are forced to
endure in these low paid areas, they are probably much better than those who
have to pick through garbage to make a living. I also understand the pain of
losing your job and the resentment you feel because you've lost the comforts
that you were used to. But, unless you can justify your higher cost to the
employer about the only legitimate course of action is to protest for
international work health and safety, and environmental rules.

But as usual, this discussion has little to do with technical writing. Unless we
want to discuss how to carve out a place in that niche that is willing to pay
top dollar. What value can we add or what justification can we underline to
support our current standard of remuneration.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer