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Jed Boal and John Hollenhorst ReportingBusinesses big and small were affected by the walkout today as Latinos and immigrants tried to demonstrate their importance. While most Utah businesses remained open, restaurants in particular were hard hit.
Many restaurants started the day with uncertainty.
Stacy Bordenave/Restaurant Manager: "I was worried none of my employees would show up."
The manager estimates three-fourths of the workers at this fast food restaurant are hispanic.
Stacy Bordenave/Restaurant Manager: "All of my employees here are loyal. They all showed up for work."
At the hamburger place, employees worked, but also wore blue ribbons to make a statement, without affecting their jobs.
At the Bayou, only liquor in the evening. At the Urban Bistro, the owner let the staff participate in the boycott.
Same story at Wasatch Brewery, where the owner estimates half of his employees are hispanic. They got a paid vacation day. He called it "latino appreciation day."
Other businesses threatened to fire workers. And plenty of customers were unhappy.
"I think it is a shame that people who are in our country illegally can essentially affect everything else and I don't think that's right."
An exclusive Survey USA poll shows most of you think the walkout will have little effect. 60-percent expect no impact at all. 27-percent expect minor impact.
Sometimes, to understand a big wide-ranging event like this, it's helpful to see it through the eyes of one person. The owner of the Blue Plate Diner is trying to survive in an industry that's become heavily dependent on immigrant labor, while the nation has failed to come up with a clear policy.
Customers arrived all day long and they went away disappointed.
John Bouzek, Diner Owner: "I'm sorry, we're closed today. I apologize. We'll be back open tomorrow."
The kichen was deserted; immigrant workers walked for the day. Owner John Bouzek shut down because he had to and because he wanted to support his workers.
John Bouzek, Diner Owner: "They get me a lot and offer me a lot, and I try to give it back to them."
He says it's hard for people outside the restaurant business to understand just how hard it is to find good workers.
John Bouzek: "It is hard work and it's fairly thankless work."
Over the years, he says, immigrant workers have been the best.
John Bouzek: "They're reliable. They show up. You know, they work hard and they do it without complaints."
His workers are all documented, he says. But they may be supporting relatives who aren't, in an immigration system checkered with dilemmas and contradictions.
John Bouzek: "We created a culture where we kind of turned a blind eye to people being able to come across the border."
His disappointed customers say the walkout shows the power of immigrants.
Gabrielle Gaston, Customer: "I think it's an important thing. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I think it's something people need to pay attention to."
Paul Johnson, Customer: "I mean, America was based on, like, everybody's an immigrant. I mean, that's what America was founded upon."
Bouzek says immigration law needs to be reformed to allow guest workers who pay taxes. But even under the current system, he disputes the claim that foreign workers drain away resources.
John Bouzek: "I don't see it as our 'Mexican welfare system' because we're not just giving money. They're doing jobs that I'm having a hard time finding other people to do."
On the other hand, we spoke with a factory owner who's furious today because his workers deserted him. He wouldn't go on camera, but he told us "the system is completely out of whack" and it's "killing our country." Clearly this event today has stirred many in lots of different ways.
