Hispanics do jobs others in U.S. "won't stand for"

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - As President George W. Bush's plans for a guest worker program languishes in a backlash against immigration, employers both large and small say they rely on Hispanic workers to keep the economy running.

Landscaper Fred Hollmann jumps through legal hoops every year to bring a handful of Hispanics to work in yards and gardens in southwest Ohio.

This year, he could only get six temporary work visas for non citizens. "They work hard, they show up every day," said Hollman. "I'd love to hire more."

Criticized on one hand for taking jobs from unemployed Americans or for working too cheaply, Latinos are complimented on the other for doing work others won't do -- a tightrope where stereotypes seem to work both for and against them.

"The stereotype of immigrants, particularly Latino immigrants, is that they're willing to work harder," said Paul Ong, a professor of urban planning at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bed and breakfast owner Karin Baldwin-Carroll said Hispanics came to her rescue last year after she moved to Kentucky from Arizona. When workers who were supposed to help unload the moving van didn't show up, she and her husband scrambled to find replacements.

Within an hour, five Hispanic men who normally work for a bricklayer hired on for the job. They unloaded the truck with three hours to spare for $10 an hour -- about double the minimum wage -- and said they'd be happy to help the Carrolls with future jobs.

"They do their job and do it well," said Baldwin-Carroll.

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At the Macehualli Work Center in Phoenix, a steady stream of contractors and private employers start rolling up before dawn to hire Mexican and Central American day laborers.

"They are not coming for cheap labor, but for quality labor," coordinator Salvador Reza said as workers sat in patio chairs and sipped coffee while waiting to be hired.

"They'll work in extreme temperatures, in 115 degree (46 Celsius) weather, and most people won't stand for that. They do it because they really want to feed their families."

Retiree Lance Barklen pulled up at the center looking for someone to do some landscaping at his daughter's house.

"It's difficult to find people just for one day, but they do a good job. I pay them $10 an hour, and they're worth it," he said as he looked for a laborer who spoke some English.

The very traits that make Latinos valued employees can also hinder their own career advancement, said Mariela Dabbah, co-author of "The Latino Advantage in the Workplace."

"They have a lot of respect for authority which makes them not question what they are asked to do," said Dabbah, a native of Argentina.

"They often end up staying in a job longer than they should because they've adapted to an uncomfortable situation. Because they're nonconfrontational, they may not be able to negotiate a better salary ... and they don't say no that often, even when they know a deadline is impossible," said Dabbah.

Julian Claudio Nabozny, owner of five McDonald's restaurants in Phoenix, sees the work ethic and close cultural ties among his Latino workers as nothing but a good thing.

"Latinos treat each other like family, they show concern for the company and for each other. They also show more respect to the management. They'll come to work even if they feel sick," said Nabozny. About 200 of his 220 employees are Latino.

Nabozny said one of his workers started as a cook in one of his restaurants more than 10 years ago and now she's an assistant manager of uncommon loyalty.

"She comes in sick. We gave her health insurance and we have to tell her, 'Aurora go see a doctor!'" he said. "She wants to make us happy."

(additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Phoenix and Adriana Garcia in Washington)