Thread: Centers Help Day Laborers Get a Hand and Get Paid

Centers Help Day Laborers Get a Hand and Get Paid
chicagonewscoop.org
by KARI LYDERSEN and BRIDGET O'SHEA
Aug 24, 2011

Every morning, rain or shine, Miguel used to head for the corner of Belmont and Milwaukee avenues and wait at an informal gathering spot of day laborers near a BP gas station in hopes he would be hired to set tile, pour concrete or lay sod.

After the job, sometimes he would be paid as promised but often he was not–a daily risk for the thousands of workers like Miguel who are hired off street corners by contractors or homeowners who need help with construction or landscaping.

Today Miguel, 48, still makes a living doing temporary construction work. But instead of braving cold temperatures or stifling heat at a busy intersection, he meets employers at a storefront office of the Albany Park Workers Center at Bryn Mawr and Kimball avenues.

He starts each job with a contract spelling out his pay and working conditions that a lawyer at the center will help him enforce, if necessary.

“Here we have a roof over our head, we have coffee,â€

As it has for other occupations, the poor economy is hurting day laborers, who face increased competition for jobs, Mr. Rodriguez said.

Okay, that takes the prize!! Illegals complaining about job competition?