Region's Construction Slows Almost To Stop

By LINDSAY PETERSON lpeterson@tampatrib.com

Published: May 2, 2006

TAMPA - Anyone doubting the influence of immigrants on the construction industry got a sharp lesson Monday as thousands of local roofers, carpenters and landscapers observed the national Day Without Immigrants boycott.

Lumber, shingles and concrete blocks sat untouched on home, apartment and industrial sites from Ruskin to New Tampa.

"It's money out of their pockets," said Rick Feather, construction director at Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa. He estimated a 60 percent absentee rate that would cost his company, Transeastern Homes, about $30,000 and delay dozens of closings.

Other sites were nearly deserted.

"This is an attention-getter," said Page McKee, senior vice president of Hardin Construction Co., where 80 percent of the workers didn't show up at some sites. Though it opened his eyes to the need for immigration reform, his company isn't likely to be harmed, he said. "A day here and a day there is certainly not going to impact an 18- to 24-month project."

Immigrants with and without green cards heeded the call of boycott organizers who asked them to stay away from work, stores and schools across the country.

Millions of them gathered in dozens of cities, including Tampa, to rally for congressional changes that would give undocumented immigrants the chance to become legal residents.

Being undocumented hasn't kept them out of the work force. About 7 percent of Florida workers are undocumented, with most working construction, service or hospitality jobs, said Jeffrey Passel, of the Pew Hispanic Center.

Beyond construction, the effect on other industries heavy with immigrants was spotty. Lawn services worked with skeleton crews, the dry weather having reduced workloads. Some motel desk clerks had to make beds when housekeepers didn't come to work. Restaurants and retail stores reported few absences.

At McDonald's restaurants throughout the area, "we tried to be ahead of the curve" and give workers the day off if they wanted it, said Bob Conigliaro, of Caspers Co., which owns 50 stores in the Tampa Bay area and 27 in and around Tallahassee. He said a fourth of Caspers' workers are Hispanic.

At Publix Super Markets, "it has been business as usual," spokeswoman Shannon Patten said. "There's been nothing at all."

In Brandon, Mimi's Cafe was closed for breakfast but handed out free muffins to customers who came by. A sign on the door said, "Many of our teammates have chosen to take Monday, May 1, off to support the Hispanic community's concerns over current and proposed immigration legislation. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience."

Life and business did not go on as usual in the area's heavily Hispanic neighborhoods. Some teachers in east Hillsborough County stayed home from school because they expected few students. And bakeries, markets and money transfer businesses on Armenia Avenue and in Town 'N Country kept their doors locked.

Some had signs in their windows: "Pare! (Stop!). Don't buy anything, don't sell anything, don't leave your home."

At La Teresita grocery on West Columbus Drive, owner Jose Bauino said business was "very slow, very slow. At this time, there's normally a lot of people in here."

In Clearwater, Saul Martinez closed his family restaurant, Gorditas don Huicho, losing $2,000, he estimated.

Clearwater grocery owner Ruben Henriquez opened his doors. "If we don't work, we don't pay the bills," he said. He closed four hours early in observation of the boycott.

"I don't think the government has to give all the illegals their green cards, but it should be a bit more flexible," he said. "Hispanics are the ones who help the businesses here."

Although all the stores around her were closed in her North Armenia Avenue strip mall, Gladys Ruiz served customers in the party supply store El Encanto.

"We would love to have closed, but we couldn't," said Ruiz, daughter of the store's owners. Groomsmen came in one after another to return tuxedos. Other partygoers came to pick up items rented months in advance.

One of her customers on Monday, Albert Vega, said he did not agree with the boycott. A first-generation American who owns a painting contracting business, he fired six legal immigrants who did not show up for work on a previous protest day.

"They don't know the effect on a business owner," said Vega, who said the previous work stoppage cost him about $4,000.

Other immigrants who opened their businesses Monday said their work ethic overrode their sympathy with the immigrant cause.

"It's a working day for me," said Simone Amaral, a native Brazilian who owns a Latin dance studio on Armenia Avenue. "I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I came here so I could work and have a decent life."

She fought for more than a dozen years and paid $20,000 in lawyer fees to get legal residency and completed the process four months ago.

She gave private lessons throughout the day and expected a full tango class in the evening. Protest or no protest, her charges wouldn't miss a lesson, she said.

"Oh, heck no," she said, laughing. "They may stop everything, but don't take away their dance!"