'Las Posadas' urges Code of Conduct for contract workers

A large crowd of marchers plus reporters from El Observador and KLIV participated in Tuesday's symbolic re-enactment of "Las Posadas" -- a Mexican holiday tradition remembering Joseph and Mary's search for an inn in Bethlehem -- in support of a Code of Conduct for Silicon Valley contract workers.

More than 8,000 members of South Bay religious congregations have signed cards urging companies using contract workers to endorse a Code of Conduct calling for fair wages and benefits, respect in the workplace, job security and non-interference in their efforts to form a union.

The march, organized by The Interfaith Council, went to Applied Materials and WebEx in Santa Clara, two high-tech companies that contract with Guckenheimer Enterprises for their cafeteria services, and ended with candlelit prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace.