A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

US Fair Labor Act - You will not believe what I just found!

Posted: Sep 20, 2011

(e)
Study of effects of foreign production on unemployment; report to President and Congress
Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that in any industry under this chapter the competition of foreign producers in United States markets or in markets abroad, or both, has resulted, or is likely to result, in increased unemployment in the United States, he shall undertake an investigation to gain full information with respect to the matter. If he determines such increased unemployment has in fact resulted, or is in fact likely to result, from such competition, he shall make a full and complete report of his findings and determinations to the President and to the Congress: Provided, That he may also include in such report information on the increased employment resulting from additional exports in any industry under this chapter as he may determine to be pertinent to such report.

So why has this not been done? I have lost so many jobs over the past 5 years to overseas it is not funny!

Follow that up with the Secretary of Labor - e-mail that I have just sent one to

[ In Reply To ..]
So I have sent Secretary Solis an e-mail asking her to investigate the loss of jobs in this industry as is required by her in the Labor Act.

who is going to join me?

For more information about the Secretary, contact:

U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-6000

E-mail Secretary Solis at talktosolis@dol.gov.

Email on its way - KimCMT

[ In Reply To ..]
My email has been sent. I hope others do the same. After 21 years in this profession, it has been very difficult to watch it deteriorate.

Mine on the way too - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I just sent my email too. I hope this helps, but really not sure if it will! It is worth a try though!

Very true "not sure if it will help" - but by law it should - from original poster

[ In Reply To ..]
But having been a paralegal for 20 years before 15 years of MT work (had to switch as 4 kids with daycare was too much!) - she is obligated by law to do this!

Unfortunately I think the government cares more about all the trade agreements than they - care about our jobs.

[ In Reply To ..]
Why else would they have been in India not too long ago (earlier this year or maybe late last year) to promote that we need to help create more jobs from America for their economy?

Could you give me a sample of this - e-mail...

[ In Reply To ..]
I have no clue what I am supposed to write. Dont want to sound like an idiot (anymore than I already do).

Thanks.

sample was posted at the - main board

[ In Reply To ..]
and I omitted my own personal story - and you should add yours.

I am hoping that finding this statutory obligation of the Secretary of Labor will help all US medical transcriptionists.

I do realize that the day of making 14 cpl straight type for any company are over, but still I can make a decent living if I have enough reports to type.

The sample is below and not at - the main board any longer

[ In Reply To ..]
Remove the parts in parens and put in your own story - also change any other parts to fit you

Good afternoon Secretary Solis,

First thank you for taking on this very onerous job in the state of our recent economy.

Second, I would like to help inform you of a plight of one of America's most productive industries and that is the one of medical transcription.

By way of background, I have lost no less than 4 jobs in the last 5 years to companies who are overseas. The most productive of which was (so here I put in my personal experience such as a large account I personally held and employed MTs which went to Pakistan. The others have gone to India, most recently an account which I have held for 15 years as a subcontractor for an MTSO - this cost close to 30 people to lose their jobs.)

In searching the internet, I am not alone. I have been out of work since May of this year, this with 15 years experience under my belt. (I then put in my experience trying to find a decent MT job and pay my bills. I do have 1 account, but not enough work to type)

I would urge you Madam Secretary in according with the Fair Labor Standards Act to please investigate this in the hopes that this can be corrected. If you go to Mtstars.com you will see that there are literally thousands of medical transcriptionist who can not make a fair dollar any more in our current economy.

Until today, I have only written my US congressman and the President himself stating "stop the overseas off shoring of American jobs. Keeping American money in America will keep America going!"

When looking up some labor laws today I found this clause in the above mentioned Act

e)
Study of effects of foreign production on unemployment; report to President and Congress
Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that in any industry under this chapter the competition of foreign producers in United States markets or in markets abroad, or both, has resulted, or is likely to result, in increased unemployment in the United States, he shall undertake an investigation to gain full information with respect to the matter. If he determines such increased unemployment has in fact resulted, or is in fact likely to result, from such competition, he shall make a full and complete report of his findings and determinations to the President and to the Congress: Provided, That he may also include in such report information on the increased employment resulting from additional exports in any industry under this chapter as he may determine to be pertinent to such report.

As an honest, hard working American, I beg you to please do as this Act asks in the industry of medical transcription.

Thank you for your time in reading this,

The other thing I was thinking... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
was ABC evening news. They've been trying to assert this "buy American" policy and how important it is to keep US jobs in the US. I think it would be interesting to see what the US citizens knew what was going on. Don't have time this eve, but will be sending emails to all.

Way too cool for you to do that - if you have e-mails

[ In Reply To ..]
to share either by e-mail or publically, I would more than help you duplicate it.

And you know, it is not just MTs, but medical billers, medical coders and other IT professionals that are losing their US jobs to overseas, but also alot of others who process work over the internet.

I sometimes wonder what state we would be in had we just kept it simple - transcribing from tapes, printing off the reports and handing them in?

Got a response from Solis - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
OK. I got this response from emailing Solis: "Thank you for your email. Your message has been received." Another brush off ....

But at least you did something! - Kudos

[ In Reply To ..]
Kudos to you and everyone else who at least tried. My draft needs a little tweaking and then it will be on its way. Maybe a high enough volume of emails/letters will get someone's attention.

Maybe a high enuf volue of e-mails/letters will get attention - I agree with you

[ In Reply To ..]
I also e-mailed all of my senators, etc. and got a very positive response today.

I also sent this to every friend I know who is an MT and asking them to please e-mail Secretary Solis. Like the other gal, I got the same response from Secretary Solis - but per the Act, our requests can not go ignored or she is being derelict of her duty as required by her under the Act.

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