Another important site of struggle for Mexican and Latino migrant workers has been in the day labor movement. This sector has become increasingly important to contractors and most non-unionized construction sites in New York because “day laborers can be hired on a temporary basis and paid in cash and below safety rates, while employers fo not have to offer them benefits or safety equipment” (Gonzales, p. 24). Organizations fight against “wage theft, police harassment, and exploitative working conditions” (Gonzales, p. 24). An organization that organizes day laborers throughout the city include NICE, or New Immigration Community Empowerment and NDLON, the National Day Laborer Network. NICE builds the individual and collective power of immigrant workers, with a focus on newly arrived immigrants and day laborers, who often times can not find safe, dignified, and fair-paying jobs and who are among those at the highest risk of workplace abuse and exploitation.
A victory was obtained in 2015 when there was $500,000 dollars funded for day laborer centers by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Chair of the Committee on Finance, and Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Chair on the Committee on Immigration and day laborers, which recognized the day laborers role in the construction, development, and growth of the city. The funding validated that centers that fight for the rights of laborers are “epicenters of workforce development for this community of worker” (CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER…). The funding allowed for NICE among other organizations to have a dignified space for day laborers to meet, referrals to job or support serves legal services to address issues such as wage theft, as well as workforce training and development.
Works Cited
“About NICE.” New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), http://www.nynice.org/aboutnice.
“CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO, COUNCIL MEMBER JULISSA FERRERAS-COPELAND, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MENCHACA AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ANNOUNCE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR DAY LABORER CENTERS IN NEW YORK CITY”. US State News, August 3, 2015 Monday.
Immigration and Work 