What is Day Labor?
On busy street corners in cities around the country, groups of men in work clothes gather to wave their hands at traffic, as if trying to hail a great herd of taxi cabs. They are day laborers, an unofficial work force that fills the cracks of the economy. Each morning they go in search of impromptu employers, rushing the stopped trucks and vans, jockeying to be chosen for work. Payment is negotiated individually, by the hour or job or day. They paint, they haul, they dig, they trim. They clean and polish, lay brick and tile, build and demolish, wire and plumb. They do anything they’re willing and able to, depending for income on whatever comes their way. In many communities, most of these men are immigrants, documented and undocumented alike. Although their numbers have grown over the last decade or so, day laborers, like immigrants, are not new to the American work landscape. In New York City, for instance, the historical ranks of day laborers have included 18th-century Irish immigran
Homeowners and Contractors may hire day laborers for temporary help on various projects. Day laborers are workers adept at skilled and general work in all types of construction, landscaping, moving, and demolition and can help make any job faster and easier. Workers hired through the Center are known for their positive attitudes, hard work, and quality craftsmanship. Day labor is a key part of the manufacturing, construction, and service economy. In Spanish, day laborers are called jornaleros, from the Spanish word jornada, which means “day of work”. Contractors, businesses, and home owners hire day laborers for non-permanent labor by picking them up from shape up sites or at workers centers. Across the country in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Seattle, Portland, and Chicago workers, contractors and other community stakeholders have collaborated to create democratic Workers’ Centers to ensure a safe and streamlined hiring process.
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