City of Austin - Downtown Report
January 1996
Labor Connections
Day Labor Pick-Up Site
Summary
"Labor Connections," located on City-owned property on the 400 block of West First Street, is a facility equipped with drinking fountains, restrooms and covered seating which provides shelter for day laborers while they wait for employment. The facility has a site coordinator who overseas day-to-day operations and doubles as a job developer and employment counselor for persons who are looking for more permanent employment. Staffing also includes full-time security and maintenance personnel who are assigned to provide services to the site and surrounding area. Oversight, maintenance and security are contracted through Helping Our Brothers Out, Inc. (HOBO).
Status
Labor Connections opened August 1, 1993 and is now fully operational. Financing for this project was provided by the City of Austin and Travis County ($95,500 for site development; $109,375 for a 21-month contract for oversight, maintenance and security). Travis County contributed $20,000 toward the cost of site development.
Issues
The site selected for this project is small in comparison to the space in which this activity was previously contained. The greatest challenge to the success of this project will be the voluntary introduction of order into a process that until now has been informal. Laborers will have to agree to a system which will provide equity in hiring or it will be difficult to limit the spread of day labor activity away from the site.
Description
Labor Connections is an informal work corner where laborers and employers can meet to conduct business, at their own risk. Workers and employers will not be required to register to use Labor Connections. The City will not assume liability or provide assurances regarding payment of wages, compliance with compensation and benefits standards, documentation of citizenship or any guarantees regarding business transacted at Labor Connections.
Conveniences such as access to drinking water, restroom facilities and covered seating are provided, and a site coordinator is available to provide assistance for persons looking for more permanent employment.
Basic Data
Project Contact: David Davis, Department of Health and Human Services, 473-4100
Contractor: Helping Our Brothers Out, Inc. (HOBO), 476-4357, fax 472-1620
Revised January, 1996
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