Casinos and unions in Las Vegas won’t celebrate Labor Day
Union leaders of the casinos in Las Vegas urged employees who support the immigration reform to go to work on May 1.
The leaders fear that thousands of Latino workers will take part in the event called “A day without immigrants”, which would paralyze almost all services provided by Hispanics to thousands of tourist everyday.
“We strongly ask employees in our companies and in our affiliates to go to work on May 1”, said D. Taylor, secretary and treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226. “We want our employees to come to work and sign a petition”, he added.
Meanwhile, a rally sponsored by casino employees was programmed for the same day at 6 p.m. in Las Vegas downtown.
Latino workers represent a 40% of the almost 60,000 members of the union that congregates housekeepers, cooks, janitors and maintenance workers from the hotels and casinos of the city that never sleeps.
The petition that leaders are urging workers to sign promotes the inclusion of six points in the immigration reform which would offer a better path for citizenship, protect employees, help families, increase security, promote civic participation and plan future immigration.
The petition has already been signed by several supporters, among them the presidents of the MGM Mirage Inc., Terry Lanni and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., Gary Loveman, who were the first to sign the petition.
On the other hand, Eddie Escobedo, editor of the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo”, asked his readers not to risk their works due to the boycott.
“You have to protect the industry that has given you everything you own”, said Escobedo, who, together with his team of 25 employees, plans not to work next Monday.
“If you go to work, the least you can do is not support or buy anything from the Anglos’ stores”, he finished, clearly stating his position regarding the legendary international celebration of Labor Day.
Union leaders of the casinos in Las Vegas urged employees who support the immigration reform to go to work on May 1.