Linus O'Tech Tips said TMC wanted to bring over Taiwanese work culture, i.e., wageslave 24/7 until you die for low pay but Americans balk at such demands. That's what is meant by shortage of "skilled" workers.
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
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To get the construction of its Arizona chip factory back on track, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) says it needs more workers with the expertise and skillsets that Americans don't have. Since June, the company has been in discussions with the US government about receiving accelerated non-immigrant E-2 visas for as many as 500 Taiwanese workers.
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The Arizona Pipe Trades 469 Union, a labor union that says it represents over 4,000 pipefitters, plumbers, welders, and HVAC technicians, has started a petition to urge US lawmakers to deny these visas. The petition claims that TSMC has deliberately misrepresented the skillset of Arizona's workforce. By approving TSMC's visa requests, a union website says lawmakers would be laying the groundwork for "cheap labor" to replace American workers.
YUP. all this, and also, probably, that the Union labor is more likely to refuse not building things to code. (edit, fixed a typo. thank you @mind)
How are they justifying these visas in any way? If it's those trades listed, claiming any kind of shortage is bullshit. They just don't want to pay union prices.
It's not those trades.
"We are now entering a critical phase of handling and installing the most advanced and dedicated equipment," said TSMC chairman Mark Liu. "However, we are encountering certain challenges as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with those specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility."
These are highly specialized engineers and scientists.
Shortage of workers that will do 16 hour days with minimal breaks for third world pay is likely what they mean... The US is going to have to throw money at this to keep it on track because TSMC is going to have to pay a livable wage to support staff and construction workers. Which they aren't used to.
I assumed that's exactly why businesses were going to AZ and TX. "Business friendly" means tax credits, tax breaks, and enthusiastically anti-union/anti-labor government.
For me, it was the only explanation for why you'd make such a long term investment in a place that's being threatened by climate change on multiple angles (water, extreme heat).
It is just the usual shortage of skilled exploitable workers. Nothing new.
tldr; TSCM wants low-paid slaves & US workers have 1000x more options.
It's never a worker shortage. Pay well, and the workers will come. TSMC (as all big corps) are just greedy cheapskates.