The county's 1998 ordinance, which has no hiring center element, is the target of a lawsuit by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which maintains that the ban violates the 1st Amendment. Labor unions, particularly in the building trades, are equally adamant in their opposition to publicly funded centers, claiming that they sanction nonunion, low-wage labor that directly competes with their members. The group is also involved in running five hiring centers in conjunction with city governments. The study clarifies the demographics of day laborers, but those findings will come as little surprise to anyone who has observed the sites. Typically, workers are young, male immigrants from Mexico and Central America.
Educational attainment varies widely, but more than half have less than six years of schooling.
And although some have since gained legal residency, the overwhelming majority remain undocumented. Most work involves construction, painting or gardening. Although the work is difficult and sometimes dangerous, the study clearly shows that day laborers who are persistent, competent and assertive can earn a decent living, particularly in the high-demand summer months. During a bad month, however, their income could drop by as much as two-thirds. Along with the jobs comes risk.