Bloomington-Normal, IL - Your job is hotel-housekeeping at $2.50 per room, 8 hours a day and your boss decides to not pay you, and then files bankruptcy. The hotel says its not their responsibility. Your rent and utilities are due and your kids need to eat. What do you do? You pray and organize.

This was the situation facing over a dozen immigrant families working at two motels in Bloomington and Normal. When they complained they were told they'd be reported to the Feds.

Through the work of CIOP Leader Cristina Deutsch (Hispanic Outreach) the workers and CIOP supporters strategized together. When negotiations were not successful with the hotel management, CIOP initiated a peaceful witness at the hotel to raise the issue in the public arena and share the urgency of the family's plight with the owner. After a committment from the hotel to pay back wages, CIOP received a letter from their attorney stating no such agreement had been made, and all future communications would be through him.

Soon after, twice the number of CIOP members showed back up at the hotel, joined by students, clergy, teachers, farmers, union members, a worker's families. Obviously the issue wasn't going away.

Ultimately, not only did this hotel pay the wages, but so too did yet another for the workers of the same cleaning company.