LATINO BUSINESSES TO BOYCOTT AT ALL COSTS RESTAURANTS, MARKETS TO CLOSE MONDAY IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS' RIGHT.

Byline: RACHEL URANGA Staff Writer

More than a dozen Latino retailers employing thousands of workers said Wednesday that they would shut down for a nationwide pro-immigrant boycott Monday.

Many businesses, from small restaurants to department stores, will take a major financial blow -- some losing hundreds of thousands of dollars -- by participating in what's been billed as the ``The Great American Boycott 2006.''

``We chose to stay home and not participate in the economy to make a point that there is a need for the work force and we need to legalize the work force,'' said Pedro Astorga, president of the Seventh Street Market Merchants Association.

The boycott strategy has raised some concerns and Cardinal Roger Mahony, LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sent out a joint letter this week to all parents asking them to ensure that their children attend school. And Mahony -- who is part of the ``We Are America'' coalition -- has denounced a boycott as counterproductive.

Still, the Seventh Street Market Merchants Association and the 1,800 workers and 82 employers it represents will shutter for the day, in support of legalizing an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

The market buys about $1 million worth of produce every day and provides food to thousands of restaurants.

``We have to support the immigrant worker. Who else picks the fruit? Who else packs it? Who else ships it?'' Astorga said.

Several other small and large businesses have and are expected to announce plans to close in support of a national boycott including several Latino supermarkets, restaurants and Los Angeles-based La Curacao, a department store serving mostly Latinos and owned by Israeli immigrants.

``At the end of the day, you are going to find thousands of store locations, employing thousands upon thousands and thousands of employees that are going to sacrifice for the big picture,'' said Steven Soto, president of the Mexican American Grocers Association, representing 16,000 retailers.

Soto said at least half a dozen grocery chain stores are expected to close including Big Saver Foods, many of whose 13 locations are in the heavily Latino areas of Central Los Angeles and others.

Mauricio Fux, senior vice president of La Curacao, with six stores, including one in Panorama City, said his stores will not buy or sell that day. Instead, stores will be staffed half of the day with immigration lawyers offering free services.

``We are not taking a political position but we understand that our community feels strongly about this day and our associates feel strongly about this day so we are letting them express their feelings whatever they want to do,'' he said.

Employees have the option of working for pay from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fux estimates the store will lose ``hundreds of thousands of dollars.''

Still, some Latino businesses say they simply have to stay open to earn money.

``Most of the businesses that have called me are against (the boycott) because they can't afford it,'' said Issac Luna, president of the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce, which represents about 25 businesses.

``My employees all want to work; they have bills to pay,'' said Luna, who owns Luna's Mufflers and Radiators.

The announcements come a day before Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, is slated to introduce a resolution in support of the boycott. But some organizers and religious leaders say a massive work stoppage and boycott could backfire and are instead calling for a day of action that includes a rally.

``You have some trepidation. You don't know what is going to happen. If they don't go shopping, are they going to make up for it the next day or is this going to be lost sales tax revenue for cities?'' said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

Organizers have not estimated how many people will join the boycott but institutions ranging from county government to hospitals have been bracing for any work stoppage.

Last week, the county sent out letters to its workers to try to determine how many would be taking the day off. Kaiser Permanente, one of the Valley's larger employers, also sent out similar letters.

But it's the industries most heavily dependent on an immigrant and Latino work force that are worried.

``This is our top issue right now because immigrants are so fundamental to the restaurant industry,'' said Lara Diaz Dunbar, vice president of governmental affairs for the California Restaurant Association, representing 22,000 restaurants.

``They are worried because they want to handle it the correct way,'' she said.