Broward County Says NO! to Outsourcing

Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 2:44 PM

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Broward County will lose 1,500 jobs when HP and Compaq outsource their
customer support center to India. These companies claim that they will save
about $10 a call by moving these jobs overseas.

The county commissioners are fighting this one and it's a battle worth
watching. Perhaps somebody is finally putting there foot down and fighting
the destruction of American jobs.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3857861.htm

Posted on Wed, Aug. 14, 2002

Broward considers boycott of HP

BY ERIKA BOLSTAD
ebolstad@herald.com

Broward County commissioners are threatening a boycott of Hewlett-Packard
and Compaq computer products in retaliation for the company's decision to
cancel its contract with a North Lauderdale customer-support firm.

As many as 1,200 to 1,500 jobs could disappear at The Answer Group in
Broward County when HP and Compaq shift customer-support jobs to a call
center in India.

The proposed boycott would protest the loss of Broward jobs as well as bring
attention to the lower wages paid to Indian workers, said Commissioner
Suzanne Gunzburger, whose call for a boycott was supported by four fellow
commissioners.

''I am infuriated that jobs are being taken from Broward County to India,''
Gunzburger said. ``I am not interested in promoting jobs in India.''

Gunzburger said she hopes the potential boycott will put pressure on HP and
Compaq, which are among several companies seeking a $33 million contract to
provide computers and equipment to Broward County and the Broward school
district.

If a massive computer contract with the two governments is in jeopardy,
Gunzburger said, HP and Compaq might reconsider their decision to go with a
call center in India.

''I wanted pressure on them so that Broward County residents will keep their
jobs,'' Gunzburger said.

The decision to shift some customer-service jobs overseas was part of the
recent merger of HP and Compaq. Call center business once handled in Broward
County will be shifted to several existing call centers, said HP spokesman
Tim Marklein.

''We look forward to sharing the facts with the Broward County Commission,
so they can have a balanced understanding of HP's actions,'' Marklein said
in an e-mailed statement.

Sending call center business overseas has become common among U.S.
businesses. Cheaper overhead in India means it costs $2 to $4 to handle a
call there compared with an average of $12 a call in the United States.

Commissioners who supported the boycott also asked the county administrator
to consider canceling some long-term service contracts with HP and Compaq.

''I think this is a wake-up call to Corporate America,'' said Commissioner
Kristin Jacobs. ``We are sick of you taking jobs overseas and paying $2 or
$3 an hour.''

But other county leaders called it a futile exercise that could backfire by
hurting U.S.-based computer workers.

''It would go so far beyond what you intend,'' said Commissioner John
Rodstrom. ``There's no end to this.''

And several commissioners also said they disliked the idea of a boycott in
the midst of contract negotiations.

''I don't know if this is the best way for government to negotiate -- by
boycott,'' said Commissioner Ben Graber.

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