U.S. Senate candidate Charles Crystle today challenged U.S. Reps. Joseph M. Hoeffel (D-PA) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA) and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) - fellow candidates from
Pennsylvania for U.S. Senate - to address the job loss caused by corporate abuse of L-1 and H-1B visas. Attention to this issue is mounting as members of Congress and advocates alike are realizing the consequences of what Crystle called “institutionalized `in-sourcing’ of cheap labor at the expense of American high-tech workers.”

Crystle specifically mentioned the L-1 visa, saying that it has caused a
dramatic loss of American jobs, especially in the technology sector. As
founder of business software company ChiliSoft (a software company now owned
by Sun Microsystems [SUNW]), Crystle knows firsthand the powerful impact the
technology sector can have on the American economy. Calling for grassroots
advocacy “to stop the unfair practice of `in-sourcing’,” Crystle is sponsoring
an online petition drive at http://www.CrystleForSenate.com/visa to encourage
the federal government to take action to protect American workers.

Companies are using both the L-1 and H-1B visas to replace American
workers with foreign workers. The H-1B is supposed to be a tool for companies
to supplement their workforces when no American workers are available for a
skilled position, but companies are simply ignoring that requirement, as well
as the requirement to pay foreign workers U.S. market rates.

The L-1 Visa allows companies to hire foreign employees in a host country,
transfer them to the United States, and pay them rock-bottom wages with few or
no benefits, while American technology workers face unemployment. Large
technology firms have extensively exploited the L-1 visa as they seek ways to
cut costs, regardless of the cost to American workers and communities. This
permits multi-national corporations to underbid small and mid-sized American
businesses for federal and state government contracts - even though the
majority of the work is performed by foreign labor.

“This is terrible for America. The American technology worker loses his
job to cheap labor, and then his replacement is paid a pittance and often
works in sweatshop conditions,” said Crystle. “The bottom line is clear: no
one wins, except for corporate politicians and their corporate friends who
fund their campaigns.”

Crystle argued that at a time when Pennsylvanians are looking for a
solution to the state’s economic woes, citizens and their representatives
cannot afford to sit by and watch the federal government pass legislation that
puts Americans out of work.

“Both blue collar and white collar jobs are quickly leaving the country
under the current administration. If our federal government keeps selling out
our workers so that big corporations can exploit cheaper labor at our expense,
the economy - in Pennsylvania or any other state - isn’t going to improve one
bit,” Crystle said. “Pennsylvanians deserve Senators in Washington who will
lead and attack economic problems head-on. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum
have failed us when it comes to jobs and the economy. Gentlemen, it’s time to
act on behalf of American workers or step down.”

Crystle, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from
Pennsylvania against Rep. Hoeffel, said he was encouraged by steps taken by
some members of Congress on the issue but is disappointed that none of the
other candidates in the Senate race have taken the lead on the issue. “Every
day they fail to lead with or embrace a solution is another day that American
technology workers lose jobs and small American companies lose business,”
Crystle said. “It’s simple: close the L-1 loophole and reduce or eliminate
the H-1B visa until Americans are working again. These visas should be
strictly supplemental, but they’ve been exploited and we’re hurting because of
it.”

Crystle applauded the mobilizing efforts of the Communication Workers of
America and their projects TechsUnite (http://www.techsunite.org) and
Alliance@IBM (http://www.allianceibm.org). Crystle’s Visa Reform petition can
be accessed at http://www.CrystleForSenate.com/visa. For more information
about Charlie Crystle and his 2004 race to represent Pennsylvania in the
United States Senate, see http://www.CrystleForSenate.com.