Casinos, union announce plans for May 1 immigration boycott

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/apr/26/042610109.html


ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas Strip casino and union executives on Wednesday urged immigrant employees and not to leave their jobs on May 1, but instead sign a petition calling for immigration law reform and attend a protest rally.

Executives feared thousands of Hispanic workers could take part in a planned May 1 "Day Without Immigrants" and cripple the Strip hospitality industry that provides thousands of clean sheets, rooms and meals to tourists every day.

"We are strongly urging the employees of our companies and our members to go to work on May 1," said D. Taylor, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226. "We want the employees to go to work in order to sign the petition."

A protest rally for casino workers was set for 6 p.m. that day in downtown Las Vegas.

Hispanic workers account for some 40 percent of the 60,000 member union, which represents cooks, maids, waitresses, bellmen and housekeepers at casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, said union political director Pilar Weiss.

The petition was to be posted in Strip casinos on May 1. It urges Congress to adopt a six-point immigration reform package that provides a path to citizenship, protects workers, reunites families, enhances security, promotes civic participation and plans for future immigration.

[mike_c]

1. they ALREADY fear the boycott, which is precisely why it should happen....

eom

[laheina]

2. Right. Isn't the whole purpose to demonstrate

how important the immigrant population is to our economy? In which case the workers should leave a strong impression on the management, owners and clientele of the casinos.

It's not like the country will collapse if the casinos don't open.