ABOUT DAY LABOR PROGRAM

Day laborers, local residents and community activists responded by organizing to preserve workers' rights to stand on public sidewalks, to call attention to the illegal practices of unscrupulous employers, and to educate the public about the global economy that creates and exploits a contingent workforce. Day laborers also exposed the need for the city to provide a safe, structured place for them to find work and access services.

From 1991 through the present, the San Francisco Day Labor Program has become one of the most dynamic immigrant worker organizations in the Bay Area. Combining comprehensive services, organizing and leadership development, the program economically and politically empowers the day laborer community, making it more self-sufficient and a viable, political voice in local and national politics.

Goals of The Day Labor Program
The Day Labor Program seeks to fulfill three primary goals: 1) Increase economic/employment opportunities; 2) Facilitate collective empowerment;
3) Raise community awareness around the status of day laborers.

What the Day Labor Program Does
The Day Labor Program ensures that day laborers have access to living wage employment and promotes the health and well being of workers. The program connects hundreds of jobs to workers every month, offers regular occupational health training to minimize the likelihood of worker injuries, job and life-skills training, medical and mental health clinics, English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes and substance abuse support groups. The program also secures a minimum wage and has assisted workers in reclaiming thousands of dollars of unpaid wages.

The Day Labor Program implements its vision based on decisions made by the Day Labor Program Worker Association. The Program provides technical support and assistance to the worker association's campaigns, which deal with issues like wage enforcement, job safety, police harassment and immigrant rights, generally. The Program provides leadership development and political education workshops.

Women's Collective
The newest component of the Day Labor Program is the Women's Collective, an organization of immigrant Latinas who work as domestic workers. The Women's Collective provides a safe, dignified space for members to find work, raise their work standards, receive training and support, and organize around issues impacting immigrant domestic workers. Collective members set their minimum wage, establish guidelines for employers and participate in various campaigns dealing with their rights as domestic workers.