Neighborhood residents show contempt for day laborers because they are poor, and businesses fear that the presence of the laborers will drive their customers away. The Immigration and Naturalization Service and the police simply harass the workers, although some advocates for the workers say the police have been more cooperative recently. In spite of the difficulties with the work in general and the new site in particular, there is some cause for optimism. We have many problems, but the biggest is low pay. We will solve our problems by organizing.
Organization is the solution.
Despite the various claims against them, the day laborers themselves say they are only struggling to secure employment, pressured by their need to provide income for themselves and their families. We are not on drugs or homeless. Jen Greenfield is a member of the Working Stiff Collective and of the Industrial Workers of the World. Return to Table of Contents for Vol.