IMMIGRATION SONG
The push for undocumented workers gathers momentum
BY LEWIS WHITTEN

Illegal immigrants in Las Vegas now have two powerful allies. The Culinary Workers Union and Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce both have voiced their support for a bill that will reform immigration and give illegal immigrants the opportunity to work and live legally in the United States.

Support for the a bill came in response to the high demand for workers in Las Vegas, especially in the construction, casino and restaurant industries. According to Jovita Thomas-Williams, vice president of labor relations at MGM Mirage, they currently have 2,500 hotel and casino positions available nationwide, most of which are in Las Vegas.

Northern Nevada has not shown much interest in the bill. Still Luther Mack, who owns 10 McDonald’s restaurants in the Reno area, sees a need for this kind of legislation.

“Without the foreign workers in the food-service industry, you probably wouldn’t have any workers,” Mack said.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced SB 1033 which would allow undocumented workers to pay a fee and remain in the United States for up to six years to work. They would also be required to study English and break no laws.

The Culinary Workers Union has voiced their support because it would give some of their members legal status and make family reunification easier, said D. Taylor, secretary treasurer of Local 226 in Las Vegas.

According to Christina Dugan, a Las Vegas chamber spokeswoman, the issue is very important to the area. She estimates that 80,000 new jobs were created in the area between August 2004 and August of this year.

The unlikely bond between labor unions and U.S. Chamber of Commerce is common nationwide. Both are working to expand immigration reform and guest worker programs.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, who supports the bill, was credited with bringing the two Nevada groups together. A companion bill is in the House, HR 2330. LW