Immigrant workers' rights is theme for Labor Day march
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
The rights of immigrant workers will be the theme for the Labor Day march Monday in Honolulu and for the national Freedom Ride, a cross-country bus trip starting Sept. 20 that will include Hawai'i union representatives.
• Labor Day March, Claire Shimabukuro, 941-2141 ext. 222 • Freedom Ride, www.iwfr.org
The Labor Day Immigrant Workers' Freedom March, sponsored by the Hawai'i State Federation of Labor, will begin with a rally at 8 a.m. Monday at Magic Island. Marchers from about a dozen unions and as many units from schools and community groups will leave the park at 8:30 a.m., proceed along Ala Moana and continue on Kalakaua Avenue to Kapi'olani Park.
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Among those involved in the local and national events is Hernando Tan, vice president of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5. Tan said he had encountered some of the obstacles faced by many immigrant workers upon his arrival from the Philippines in 1980.
Noncitizen laborers, too worried about their immigration status to complain, often are passed over for promotions and denied time off for family emergencies, Tan said.
"They always look at you differently and give you excuses that others are better qualified," he said.
"We would like, as a result of this, to educate the public and legislators to craft legislation to make it easier for all immigrants to become citizens in this country ... friendly laws to protect immigrant workers on their job."
Tan will represent Hawai'i on the Freedom Ride, traveling on the bus that leaves from Los Angeles. Separate groups will depart from eight other cities and all will converge in Washington for meetings with congressional leaders. The tour will end Oct. 4 in New York at a mass rally.
Four others from Local 5 will join Tan on the ride: Merlina Santella, Domi Molina, Pete Ramos and Maggie Larson.
In addition, there will be three participants from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union: Bill Udani, Nemesio Sanchez and Bob Zahl.
Other civil rights advocates yesterday highlighted the importance of the observances for America's immigrants. Marsha Joyner, president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition in Hawai'i, said people's attitude toward those "who don't look like Americans" has worsened since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Freedom Ride is "a historic opportunity for immigrants, their families and people committed to advance justice and freedom," said Pat McManaman, president of Na Loio, the Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center.
