DOJ ends probe of utility over IT replacements; no charges filed

Former IT worker sees ‘betrayal’

Feb 20, 2016 4:13 AM PT

The U.S. Dept. of Justice has ended its investigation into Southern California Edison over its replacement of IT workers, a utility executive said in a memo sent Friday to employees.

"I wanted to pass along some good news," said Pedro Pizarro, SCE president, in the email. "The Department of Justice's investigation into whether SCE discriminated against American workers in its IT outsourcing practices has closed with no adverse findings against the company," wrote Pizarro.

About 500 IT workers at SCE were cut, mostly through a layoff. Some of the IT workers complained of having to train foreign replacements on an H-1B visa to remain eligible for a severance package.

The cuts followed a decision by the utility to hire Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services to take over some its IT work. Both firms are major users of visa workers.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/article/3035145/it-careers/doj-ends-probe-of-utility-over-it-replacements-no-charges-filed.html