My first contact with the Programmer's Guild was at the bottom point of the dotcom bust.
I was in the midst of a long and frustrating job search at a time when many talented programmers were looking for work. An email, mass mailed to a networking group I was a part of, was aimed at recruiting people who just might to use "foreigners" as a scapegoat for the frustration of unemployment.
I was troubled by the tone of the email-- that foreigners (in this case Indians) were the cause of all of the problems and that we Americans should join together to oppose "them". I particularly didn't think attacks on fellow workers was appropriate in a group whose purpose was for people to support each other.
Instead of joining in and attacking foreigners, I decided to be productive. I retooled my career-- learning new skills and making new contacts. Since then I have been able to increase my salary to a bit higher than 50% more than its highest point during the dotcom boom.
I now work in a good job with coworkers from America and from England, India and China who I respect and enjoy working with.
Yet the Programmers Guild is still using an angry anti-foreigner message to rally programmers against the great foreign menace.
The problems I have with the Programmers Guild are below the fold.
The Illogical goal of American Dominance
American software companies with American programmers sell software throughout the world. Microsoft is used in Belgium and in China. Oracle sells software in Kenya and in Tibet. IBM sends American consultants to banks and companies in Brazil and Morocco.
Funny thing is that no one in the Programmers Guild complains about the loss of Tibetan jobs, or Colombian jobs to American programmers. Everyone knows that talented American programmers have no borders.
Yet what is a talented Indian programmer supposed to do?
According to the Programmers' guild, they can't work here temporarily (the guild opposes temporary visas). They can't work here permanently (the guild is against permanent residence). They can't even access the international market (currently dominated by American countries) and work in their own country (that would be "outsourcing").
They are fine with the role of American programmers in the international marketplace. But people who didn't happen to be born American shouldn't work in this market... no matter how talented or hardworking they are.
It turns out the the issue of whether continuing an American Dominance in an international market like software is moral-- increasingly it is becoming less and less possible.
The fact is that there are talented, motivated and educated programmers who don't feel the fact they were born in the US should keep them from working. If they can't work in the US, they are going to work elsewhere-- and don't forget that software is an international business.
Us vs. Them Economics
The rhetoric of the Programmers' Guild is based on Us (i.e. Americans) against Them (particularly Indians and Chinese but I think it includes any non-American). The idea is that the only way we Americans can prosper is if they (the foreigners) are shut out.
The economic theory this is based on is simplistic and flawed. It imagines that there are a set number of jobs that we all must fight for meaning every job that one of them does, is one less job for us.
Of course this bleak view of the economy is thankfully not real life. People who work hard, and collaborate with others create new products and new opportunities. I am not threatened by the people I work with, or even the people I compete with.
Opposing Reasonable Solutions
Of course, there are real problems related to immigration, and particularly the ability of corporations to exploit immigrants. Some of the rhetoric of the Programmers Guild, particularly in opposition to abuses of the H1-B visa program, is valid.
The problem is the Programmers Guild, in their anti-immigrant zeal, reject some of the logical solutions to these issues. Instead of fighting abuses, or exploitative practices of employers, the Programmers' Guild target immigrants themselves. It is targeting workers for the excesses of corporations.
Take Green Cards, for example. If you are concerned that temporary workers with limited rights to change jobs will lower wages since they at the mercy of their employers-- insisting that people who come to work are given permanent residency solves the problem.
There is a disagreement about how many talented workers that business needs and one side is making the charge that business only wants exploitable workers. Well, make them treat any worker that they say is necessary the same as they treat American workers.
Yet the Programmers' Guild rejects any immigrant-- refusing to hear any legitimate argument from business, or needs of any worker who is not American.
Off the Anti-Immigrant Deep End
That the Programmers Guild uses rhetoric, and even language from other right wing anti-immigrant groups takes away any credibility they have to speak for programmers.
Last year they have opposed the alleged "amnesty" (notice they use the right wing term) for "illegals" in the immigration bill... even though this has almost nothing to do with high tech workers.
In their Newsletter from last December was a bullet that they would seek alliances with NumbersUSA (a right wing anti-immigrant group).
There latest newsletter even contains a quote, and a link, from none other than Phyllis Schafly (that great American defender of workers rights.)
Who Do They Speak for?
I am an American Programmer. I chose a challenging field and I work hard to stay on top of changing technology. This is a rewarding career.
The people in my industry are creating new technologies and new jobs. A lot of this creativity comes from innovation and collaboration. As part of this I have worked and profited from my fellow programmers, both Americans and non-Americans. This is part of what makes my career an interesting one.
Of course I am concerned about making sure my co-workers and peers are not put in a position where they can be exploited. This is neither good for them or me. This is why I don't like H1-B visas and why I support a moderate limit on corporations (if it isn't an attack on workers).
I would support an organization that really stood up for the interests of programmers-- instead of pitting one group against the other.
But the Programmers Guild insists on attacking programmers and pitting one group against another. They preach a simplistic and paranoid view of economics. And, they reject good ideas because of their anti-immigrant ideology. They ally themselves with conservative anti-immigrant groups even in areas that have nothing to do with the software industry.
The Programmers Guild does not speak for me, or for my interests.