View Single Post
Old 04-15-2010, 04:57 AM   #5830
scaeagles
I LIKE!
 
scaeagles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,819
scaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of coolscaeagles is the epitome of cool
Along those lines, I find it amusing on Cesar Chavez day, a rather large celebration in Arizona, when the local leaders of the primarily hispanic community use the podium to talk about fairness for all laborers.

Cesar Chavez encouraged members of the hispanic community to report illegals and he was pro-deportation. The reasons are clear. He knew that the literally millions of extra workers that were off the books in the US lowered the cost of labor immensely, creating a very low standard of living for those that were here working legally.

That said, I don't know how to deal with the day laborers hanging out at home depot. Only a few miles from my home, there was an attempt for day laborers to organize. They ended up, along with the HOme Depot they were hanging out at) to get a day labor center built for them to hang out at and wait for people to come hire them. It quickly became problematic in that organizers would only allow people in who committed to accept no less than $8/hour for labor. To gain an advantage, several went back to the street corner, looking to work for $7/hour. Soon no one used the shelter that cost $150K to build. It's now back to normal at the Home Depot (except the numbers are way down as not many people are hiring day labor in this economy).

ISM, I honestly don't know what the solution is for day labor. There may not be one. But the day labor situation hurts the wages of those who are here legally and legally operated businesses. Yeah, maybe I can't fin someone who will come and build my fence on the day I need it - I might have to plan ahead - but that seems a minor convenience. As for your specific needs, I'm sure a few blocks away on Van Buren you might find another hourly laborer to take care of you.

Can't say I know what the best solution is. I don't like the new law. I don't think what is happening now is acceptable, though.
scaeagles is offline   Submit to Quotes Reply With Quote