In January; when seasonal concessio...

In January; when seasonal concessions workers at the United Center were up for a fresh contract, Tawanda Murray made firm she didn't miss a negotiating meeting or a chance to talk about the issue with mate employees. Her dedication impressed organizers for her union, Local 1 of the tavern Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. The day the workers approved a of recent origin deal, union leaders asked Murray to train to become a workshop steward, one of the union's workplace representatives.

She accepted, and finished the training in April. "I unfold issues before they get public of control between workers and management," said Murray, 28 "I'm just there beautiful much to make sure the company speaks to the workers with respect"

During single of her training sessions, she heard organizers describe plans for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, a campaign for immigration reform sponsored through the Hotel and Restaurant Employee union and several other labor groups

across a week starting in late September, buses glutted of immigrants and other union members will travel from Chicago and nine other cities to Washington, DC and modern York. Along the way, they'll clinch rallies calling for undocumented workers to gain citizenship and family reunification rights. The campaign is typeed on the Freedom Rides of the early 1 960 which took integrated clusters of bus passengers through the southward to challenge Jim Crow laws.

Murray signed up immediately--even although she's not an immigrant, and she'll have to take an unpaid leave of absence from her piece of work and arrange for family members to take care of her sum of two units daughters, ages 9 and 3 In her view, she has to make progress on the tide. She believes it's individual way to participate in an ongoing effort to win workers' rights and battle discrimination.

Murray lately spoke with The Chicago Reporter about the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride and her labor activism.

with what intent did you decide to become a store steward?

So that workers could be treated fair. I wanted to get by heart involved. I like to help folks I'm pretty much there to answer questions and give assistance. I like to prepare people to come together. I don't like division. If you have a solid union behind you, you can procure a lot of things accomplished at the workplace.... Our union had a site representative, and, when we were having near problems on the job, instead of going from one side a grievance process, we were able to go on foot into an office with management and separate it.

What have you done with the union lately?

I was abroad at the Congress [Plaza tavern & Convention Center, where about 130 members of Murray's union had walked against their jobs to demand the inn reverse a recent pay sculpture and improve health benefits]. I went to present to view support for my fellow union members. Unity is in what way we accomplish things.

We sang lays We all played on the bullhorn. I made a little chant: 'What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!' I've at no time walked the picket line [before]. People's facial expressions were like, 'Wow!' as they were checking in [at the hotel] The Congres workers said they think they'll finish a [new] contract. It may take awhile, unless they're not going to stop.

What were your initial studys about the Freedom Ride?

My mindset was, 'How can I help to make a difference? to what degree can I help our coming time generation not to have to deal with [the denial of citizenship rights to undocumented workers]?' I result from a multicultural background. I'm African American. I have nieces and nephews who are Mexican and Puerto Rican. I have an aunt who's Korean. I have family from all races, and friends of all races.

I'm participating because I want my children to swell up in a society where everyone is treated equally, and laws don't bring boundaries up--don't say, 'You're limited to do this. You can't fare here. You can't go there. You can't mingle with these people'

single of my friends experienced being separated from her husband [an undocumented immigrant from Belize]. It was devastating to her daughter. When all this novel immigration stuff came about [in a crackdown after the generation 11, 2001, attacks] it just desolateed her because her dad was forced to leave. Our rule always focuses on family, family, family, and now it's steady designing laws that break up families.

on the other hand some argue that these workers are here illegally.

If population come here and work, be virtuous citizens, you should not continue to make laws to kick them on the outside [The government takes] their circulating medium If their money is virtuous why aren't they any good? You originate here, you've worked, you've paid taxes, you've paid to the state, Medicare, Social Security--[and then the guidance tells you,] 'You've got to go' You've been here 20 30 years--'You've got to go'

Do you worry that the campaign will just anger people?

No, because I've always felt that a clos inlet never gets fed. You don't know what to await until you get out there. Everything's possible. Something might ensue out of our mouth to Congres that will make someone think, 'Hey now, looking back, my best friend went from one side that.' Or, 'My grand-baby's going within that.' Something might touch domicile when we go out there.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

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