Posted on 05/01/2006 2:51:34 PM PDT by Sterm26
Illegal immigrants made their point Monday: Without them, Americans would pay higher prices and a lot of work wouldn't get done.
As nationwide demonstrations thinned the work force in businesses from meat-packing plants to construction sites to behind the counter at McDonald's, economists said there can be no dispute within the context of the contentious immigration issue that the group wields significant clout in the U.S. economy.
"If illegal immigration came to a standstill, it would disrupt the economy," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "It would lead to higher prices for many goods and services, and some things literally would not get done. It would be a major adjustment for our economy, for sure."
Another economist, Diane Swonk, said it would be an economic mistake to restrict entry and work rights when revising immigration policy.
"Given the obvious hardship of having illegal aliens flooding in, we also know they are critical to the functioning of the U.S. economy," said Swonk, chief economist at Chicago-based Mesirow Financial. "To be turning our backs on people who want to work is kind of silly in an environment where you've got tight labor markets and we're getting older and need younger people to work."
While the full impact of the one-day Day Without Immigrants boycott was hard to immediately gauge, it was palpable in some industries with a heavily Hispanic work force. On-the-job turnout was dramatically lower at some locales in the meat-packing, masonry, restaurant and landscaping businesses, and numerous firms closed for the day.
Mike Collins, who owns 500 acres of Vidalia onions in southeastern Georgia, was forced to shut down his packing shed and postpone his harvest when none of his 175 seasonal workers showed up.
"We need to be going wide-open this time of year to get these onions out of the field and we have nobody working today," he said. "Losing a day in this part of the season causes a tremendous amount of problems."
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shut five of nine beef plants and four of six pork plants in anticipation of widespread absences. Perdue Farms Inc., the nation's third-largest chicken producer, closed eight processing plants in seven states. Cargill Meat Solutions, the nation's second-largest beef processor, gave more than 15,000 workers the day off and closed plants in six states.
Gold Kist, another poultry producer, shuttered two North Carolina plants and operated its two Georgia facilities at reduced productivity after many employees failed to heed requests by the company's managers and CEO to show up despite the protests.
"We've tried to be open," said Wayne Lord, a vice president for the Atlanta-based company. "They were urged to come to work today because of our focus on satisfying our customer requirements."
Others publicly supported their employees' cause. Arthur Velasquez, founder and chief economic officer of Azteca Foods in Chicago, said he was "extremely proud" of his workers and noted that illegal immigrants keeps alive companies that need seasonal employees.
"It's a seasonal situation, so people need workers right then and there," he said. "And either that or they don't survive."
Many companies rediscovered what they already knew: They can't operate effectively without the extra help.
Work sites operated in the Washington, D.C., area by Beltsville, Md.-based Manganaro MidAtlantic, a concrete and masonry company where immigrants comprise up to 75 percent of the work force, were quiet Monday. John Livingston, a business developer for Manganaro, said his firm has not been able to fill its staffing needs without immigrants for more than a decade.
Low attendance also was the story at hotels in Indianapolis, construction sites in Miami and plant nurseries and landscapers across a wide area.
McDonald's Corp. said some of its employees participated in the rallies, prompting it to operate an unspecified number of its nearly 14,000 restaurants with limited crews, shortened hours or drive-thru service only. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based company did not provide further specifics but released a statement saying it strongly supports U.S. immigration reform.
Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist at LaSalle Bank in Chicago, said the boycott underscores that immigration is not only political issue but a big economic one, too.
"The American economy really relies to a large extent on a growing labor force," he said. "There's a certain replenishment to the labor force that immigrants provide, and I think we have to be careful about taking steps that would hinder that process."
"I wonder what the reaction would be if there were a "Year Without Taxpayers"?"
Martial law.
I just heard on KRLA that they were pretty much shutting down a big stretch of Wilshire (or LaBrea) in anticipation of 100,000s rallying.
But I'm with you - I don't think there's much sting.
Agreed! The places closed here in LA appear to be those relying heavily on food service people ... hardly the "economic clout" that AP alludes to.
In fact, the places close are those who have a disproportionately high number of Hispanics in their food service ... and lots of taco stands ... most owned by Hispanics anyway.
There was a goodly sum in Sacramento. I'm thinking it'll grow AFTER THEY GET OFF WORK!!!!
Martial law.
Maybe. Then comes the "Year of Lead and Nooses"
This is crap. Traffic was great today, though. Just soared right into work. Zoom.
No. The casinos were a little antsy because they would have a rough day if 1/4, 1/3 or more of their staff didn't show up for a day, but I think they worked something out and most people showed up to work today.
Wow! Come to think of it, I did see fewer 1970s Chevys on the road this morning.
ILLEGALS GO HOME
The majority of businesses that have shut down employ largely illegal aliens and/or service largely communities that consist of the purchase power of illegal aliens.
Without illegal aliens they'll disappear, whilst the businesses servicing legal citizens will be unaffected. The government may have a slight dropoff in tax revenue....but they haven't demonstrated our economy and this country will be at a standstill or economic collapse is enforced. Quite the opposite.
Looks like he's been writing AP Business stories for at least the last couple of years.
Yeah, if they all went back home, it would have an economic impact. Guess what? I don't care.
As long as they are marching, they can turn South and keep on going. And they can take their sympathizers with them.
I was in Vegas last week as well and noticed several people drinking heavily to dull the pain...
I have a friend who lives around La Brea and Wilshire and she said that area is being closed. They are trying to shut down Wilshire.
Downtown will be a mess since the main rally is there.
Since I work in the stockmarket my day is over. I drove through the Valley to avoid the Wilshire or Downtown closure.
In the elevator leaving the office I was with 2 men (one black) and 4 women. ALL without exception were disgusted with this whole demonstration.
I also heard that the Border Patrol has shut down the Tijuana border crossing in response to demonstrations in that area.
Muleteam1
It doesn't matter what the turnout was and how many participated. The headlines were already written weeks ago.
Yep. The money these protestors forfeited today will be felt more back home in Mehico when the pay check is a day short than it is here.
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