San Lucas Workers Center
2914 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
773-227-6633 office/fax

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2007

Contact: Ari Glazer, 773-573-6633 (cell) or 773-370-6633 (cell)
E-mail: sanlucasworkers (at) yahoo.com

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL COMPANY RENEGES ON PROMISES TO DAY LABORERS

CHICAGO - The San Lucas Workers Center, day laborers, and community allies will hold a protest on a high-profile international
company headquartered in Chicago on Friday, January 26 to denounce mistreatment of day laborers. The company refuses to keep its
commitment to end its relationship with day labor agencies that violate the Day Labor Services Act of Illinois and have a history
of worker exploitation.

"Corporations that employ day laborers should compel day labor agencies to treat workers fairly," said Randy Smith, day laborer and President of the San Lucas Workers Center. "Companies should fire abusive agencies and contract with agencies that abide by a Community Code of Conduct," Smith added.

Protesters will depart at 6:30pm from the San Lucas Worker Center, 2914 W. North Avenue. The group will begin a short march on the
corner of Division and State at 7:15pm.

Media is welcome to film bus loading and to ride along or meet protesters at the demonstration site (you can wait at Chipotle Grill to keep warm, SW corner). Workers will be available for comment at the protest.

The San Lucas Workers Center is the first worker-run organization demanding that Chicago companies only use day labor agencies that
comply with a Code of Conduct. The Code, created by workers, commits companies to fair treatment, full payment for all work, and
to provide a path to regular employment.

Short paychecks, illegal transportation charges, retaliation for organizing or complaining, discrimination, unsafe working conditions, abusive supervisors, and the inability to move from temporary to permanent positions are some of the challenges these workers face daily. "Companies need to take responsibility for the abuses of the day labor agency," said Javier Franco, a day
laborer and San Lucas leader. "We need companies that carry products based on our labor to help us obtain fair treatment. We work hard for these companies, we deserve to work for an agency that will treat us with respect and follow the law."

"Companies need to be held accountable for how day labor workers are treated. This company broke their agreement with the community to use an agency that is Code-compliant, and now is threatening retaliation for workers speaking up for their rights," said Graciela Flores, a member of San Lucas Workers Center.

San Lucas Workers Center fights sweatshop abuses by Chicago day labor agencies and their client companies. We are a bilingual, multi-racial Committee of immigrant and U.S.-born workers, directly affected by the issues, who are organizing to end sweatshop abuses by Chicago day labor agencies; win regular, family-supporting work; and generate self-determination for day laborers through worker-led collective action.