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LOCAL Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights

Sun 2.22 Help Gather Signatures in Support of the Albany Park Day Laborers

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 11AM

SUPPORT THE ALBANY PARK DAY LABORERS by
Gathering Signatures of 39th Ward Residents
in support of the creation of a democratic workers’ center
for corner day laborers.

WHERE: Mexico Solidarity Network
4834 N. Springfield, 2nd Floor

*Join supporters of the Albany Park Day Laborers as we reach out to Albany Park residents by petitioning at local business and going door to door to educate and gather support for the creation of a democratic workers’ center for corner day laborers. In addition, we will provide people with the opportunity to register to vote!

*Food, Background on the Albany Park campaign
and orientation to petitioning will be provided.

For more information contact the Latino Union of Chicago at 312.491.9044 or via email at latinounionofchicago (at) yahoo.com
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 11AM

SUPPORT THE ALBANY PARK DAY LABORERS by
Gathering Signatures of 39th Ward Residents
in support of the creation of a democratic workers’ center
for corner day laborers.

WHERE: Mexico Solidarity Network
4834 N. Springfield, 2nd Floor

*Join supporters of the Albany Park Day Laborers as we reach out to Albany Park residents by petitioning at local business and going door to door to educate and gather support for the creation of a democratic workers’ center for corner day laborers. In addition, we will provide people with the opportunity to register to vote!

*Food, Background on the Albany Park campaign
and orientation to petitioning will be provided.

For more information contact the Latino Union of Chicago at 312.491.9044 or via email at latinounionofchicago (at) yahoo.com


Background on Corner Day Labor in Albany Park
∑ Corner day laborers congregate on street corners where local contractors and business owners pick them up and hire them on a temporary basis.

∑ Day laborers have been congregating in Albany Park near the intersection of Pulaski and Lawrence for over 15 years. This is the oldest site for day laborers in Chicago. 95% of the day laborers that congregate in Albany Park are Albany Park residents.

∑ The workers and the Latino Union have met several times with 39th Ward Alderman Laurino, attempting to find a site for day laborers and a solution to issues of public safety and traffic.

∑ The Salvation Army received $15,000 of city funding (March 2002 to March 2003) to provide a space and a staffperson for the workers. This happened as a result of complaints about day laborers coming from residents and business owners on Lawrence Ave. which pressured Ald. Laurino to find a solution.

∑ The Salvation Army space did not provide anything more than a temporary solution and workers were evicted from their grounds in March of 2003. This happened because:
1. The workers had no input in the matter, an were not consulted during any stage of the relocation process
2. The space provided was situated too far back, not allowing workers to be visible to potential employers (if contractors can’t see workers, they can’t hire them)
3. The Salvation Army’s parking lot was not equipped to deal with the traffic flow inherent of a hiring site, posing safety issues with their own employees.
4. The staffperson hired by the Salvation Army (and the Salvation Army as a whole) had no experience with either the day labor phenomenon or in worker organizing

∑ Upon their eviction from the Salvation Army, Ald. Laurino gave workers permission to use the abandoned CTA bus turnaround on Pulaski and Foster while they continued to look for other sites. Workers relocated and came back to Laurino with a list of possible spaces for a PERMANENT space. All of these suggestions were rejected as Ald. Laurino reminded workers that the turnaround was only temporary and that they would have to move.

∑ With no other choice, workers began their campaign to remain at the abandoned turnaround. They collected over 1,000 signatures from area residents supporting the creation of a workers’ center at the abandoned bus turnaround.

∑ Their efforts extended their stay but ultimately ended in their final eviction on Labor Day of 2003. City officials attempted to relocate workers by building a fence in front of the bus turnaround and notifying them of the “new site” in a Kmart parking lot on Addison and Central Park (located miles away and outside of the 39th Ward). The bus turnaround is slated for a park expansion.

∑ The workers voted not to relocate to the space on Addison & Central Park because:
1. It was unilaterally chosen without taking into consideration the workers’ needs or opinions
2. It was too far (Studies by the National Day Labor Organizing Network back this up, stating that viable spaces need to be within a one mile range of where workers originally began to congregate)
3. It did not provide a PERMANENT solution (after having moved twice, each time losing work as contractors scrambled to find their new location, workers decided that they were unwilling to be moved to yet another temporary space, only to be relocated in another few months)
4. It was not logistically equipped to deal with traffic flow (much like the Salvation Army, workers anticipated employer traffic would interfere with Kmart’s daily business)

Current Situation

∑ The workers are now on the street, on Pulaski and Foster as well as on Lawrence and Springfield. Although workers have attempted to reestablish contact with Ald. Laurino to share further ideas for possible spaces, they have been ignored.

A group called Neighbors United has recently formed. They are a group of residents who are upset about day laborers standing on Albany Park’s sidewalks and streets. Workers and members of the Friends of Albany Park Day Laborers coalition have been working with Neighbors United, meeting to hear resident concerns and collaborate on possible solutions.
 
 

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