TSMC wants to bring in foreign reinforcements to get its Arizona factory running because it claims there aren't enough qualified local workers.

TSMC says the opening of its Arizona chip factory has been delayed due to a shortage of skilled workers. The company says it needs to bring Taiwanese workers to Arizona to get construction back on track. An Arizona union says US jobs are being threatened — and is urging lawmakers to deny the workers’ visas.

  • esadatari@lemmy.world
    1327·
    1 year ago

    hmmm. while i get the point the union is trying to make, there is a staunch difference between welding and pipe fitting versus creating semi-conductors.

    i think it’s silly to assume the workers wouldn’t learn the necessary skills to be able to work there, but it’s also silly to say “well we can fit pipes and weld shit so we can make semiconductors.”

    • MicroWave@lemmy.worldOP
      57·
      1 year ago

      We’re not talking about semiconductor workers though. This is from the earlier article that this article references:

      TSMC and its suppliers are in talks with the U.S. government to assist with the application process for non-immigrant visas in a bid to dispatch more than 500 experienced workers as early as July to expedite the construction of cleanroom facilities and the installation of pipelines and other equipment, three chip supply chain executives said.

      https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/TSMC-to-send-hundreds-more-workers-to-speed-U.S.-plant-construction

      • HuddaBudda@kbin.social
        82·
        1 year ago

        Chip making factories need water, electricity, ventilation. I don’t think that surprises anyone.

        And if there was one thing American’s are Semi-good at, it is trade skills.

        If this was a case of needing more experienced professionals for chips, I would agree with Tiawan. However, could anyone make an argument on why we need a concrete expert from Taiwan? Or an electrician from Tiawan? Or a plumber from Tiawan?

        • jscummy@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          1 year ago

          Specialized electricians for some of the more sophisticated systems is the only one that makes any sense. Even then, there’s plenty of US workers available unless it’s something highly specific to chip fabs.

    • ZapBeebz_@lemmy.world
      33·
      1 year ago

      To add on, this union represents a large number of skilled pipefitters and other tradespeople who have done the exact same work on several similar Intel facilities within Arizona. It’s pretty clear that TSMC wants to take US taxpayer funding (for a project designed to stimulate the skilled trades in AZ, as well as create jobs for Americans) and instead of paying market rates for American workers, pay a lot less to bring workers over from Taiwan.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
      191·
      1 year ago

      they’re talking about building the facility. which includes a shit load of plumbing. between all the high-purity water line, the chemical line. the gas line. the everything else to feed the machines… yeah. they’re gonna need pipefitters