Union forging a voice for immigrant workers

[Nottingham]

Union forging a voice for immigrant workers
By JENALIA MORENO
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
With sweat pouring down his face, Jose Benitez spends yet another afternoon at the window of a taco truck, urging the immigrant women inside these oven-like trailers to join forces and fight for a decent salary.

At night, the union organizer sidles up to bars and sips non-alcoholic beer as he tries to convince immigrant waitresses who wear tight miniskirts that they deserve health care coverage.

"We want to improve your lives," Benitez tells sisters Maria Luisa Villa and Celerina Villa as they prepare a torta for a Spanish-speaking customer at the Taqueria Muralla.

Muralla means "wall" in Spanish. Walls are what Benitez is busy trying to break down for Houston's undocumented workers, many of whom cling to their jobs, no matter how low-paying, because they believe they have no other options.

more...
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2076090

The Immigrant Workers are coming in the thousands and they are unionizing! :bounce: