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MONDAY MEMO The Chamber Announces Resignation of President & CEO Jessie J. Knight, Jr. The Chamber's Legislative Positions Entering a New Realm in Member Benefits Chamber & SBA Honor Local Small Businesses The Port's Roadmap for the Future Chamber looking to Source Technology Products and Services |
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UPCOMING EVENTS 07/12 First Wednesday Program 07/18 Get Connected Breakfast 07/21 60th Annual Flag, General and Senior Officers Ball 07/27 Business After Five Mixer 10/2 Fifth Annual Chamber Golf Classic |
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CHAMBER CONNECTION The Chamber has New Business Alliance Groups! Arts and Business Make International Music Together Workers' Comp Program New and Discounted |
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FEATURED MEMBERS University Club Atop Symphony Towers San Diego's Business and Social Center The New Management Reality The Vargas Group Realtors, Homeowners Benefit from Turnkey Staging's Expertise You're Invited to a Grand Opening Collwood Terrace Jesse Segura With Stinson Financial Group, Inc. National Cat Protection Society Dedicated to the Protection and Welfare of Cats Torrey Capital Helping Business Owners Avoid Costly Retirement Mistakes Obelisk Media Targets Corporate Multimedia Needs UCSD's Small Business Fair On August 23 |
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Immigration Seminar Addresses Cold Realities of Hot-Button Issue Local companies rely heavily on immigrant labor, and pragmatic problem-solving will be more effective than fences in addressing shortfalls in U.S. immigration policy. Those were two key conclusions from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's seminar last week on business and immigration. Titled "What Immigration Means to Business," the two-hour breakfast event at the Doubletree Mission Valley promised to be a thoughtful, nonpartisan discussion of immigrant labor and how U.S. policy might be shaped to ensure businesses have the manpower they need while maintaining order in our nation's frontiers. Five esteemed panelists from business and academia discussed the realities of immigrant labor that often get drowned out in noisy debates on the topic – namely, that companies have come to rely on both documented and undocumented workers for their continued growth. Ginger Jacobs, partner with immigration law firm Guererro & Jacobs, said immigration is no longer about gatekeeping, but is actually a talent-attraction issue. With low unemployment and a dearth of employees with the right experience and skills to fill certain positions, employers are hamstrung by strict limits on visas allowing people from other countries to work here. Panelist Cesar Aguilera, owner of A&L Tile, said his 60-employee business is suffering from a severe labor shortage. Even though he pays an average of $20 per hour and recruits aggressively, Aguilera has been unable to find qualified workers for an upcoming $10 million contract to lay tile at The Mark, a downtown residential project. As a result, Aguilera said, he's had to ask to be released from the project. "My son is graduating from (San Diego) State and wants to take over the business," Aguilera said. "At this point, I don't know what's going to be left of my business." While panelists agreed on the importance of border security, several pointed out that the work force of immigrants – both legal and illegal – has been a boon to U.S. employers, and legislation that proposes sealing our borders would have dire consequences for the construction, agricultural, service and meat-packing industries. Instead of "big fence" proposals, they say, programs that enable employers to hire foreign workers legally should be expanded. Jacobs suggested that the Chamber and the business community press their congressional representatives to support provisions in the comprehensive immigration reform bills that raise the cap on the number of visas for highly educated workers (H1B visas) and create new categories of work visas to offer employers access to a pool of authorized workers with the necessary skills. Mexico Sen. Hector Osuna Jaime said Mexican citizens will always find a way to get over the border because of the enormous economic incentive. However, he noted that in contrast to popular notions that the lack of Mexican jobs is drawing people north, Mexico has reasonably low unemployment. The real lure is that U.S. jobs pay about five times more. The Chamber will continue to explore the immigration issue over the next few months as federal legislation continues to work its way through Congressional committees. |
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Member Spotlight  "When I became an active member of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce my business took a direction that astonished me. I had no idea that the Chamber was a wealth of resources. The relationships that developed, the marketing opportunities, the alliances and the business advocacies are all reasons that foster the success of my business. When the Chamber says "Good for San Diego, Good for Business" they mean it!" -Joanna Herr, President, Herr Photography, Inc. www.herrphotography.com |
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Thank You to our
Renewing Members Chamber Press Releases Hot off the press |
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Members in Action Announcements, awards and more! Chairwoman's Report News from the Chamber Board |
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Your Business Advocate Leveraging its robust membership, collaborations with other organizations and political access, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's business advocacy team initiates legislation and lobbies for policies that create a stronger pro-business environment. |