This coming Monday is Labor Day in the United States. A great time to reflect on the work done by day laborers around the country and highlight an organization that supports them.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network, or NDLON, was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Pasadena, California. Their vision is “to live in a world of diverse communities where day laborers live with full rights and responsibilities in an environment of mutual respect, peace, harmony and justice.”
Depending on where you live, you’ve likely seen day laborers waiting for work outside stores like Home Depot, at gas stations or anywhere people might drive up and offer them work. Not only is the work inconsistent, day laborers have no protections against work-related injury and instances of wage theft are on the rise.
NDLON works to improve the lives of day laborers, migrants and low-wage workers by building “leadership and power among those facing injustice so they can challenge inequality and expand labor, civil and political rights for all.”
They partner with 70 member organizations across the country and have a variety of programs to support day laborers and immigrants. Migrant defense and popular assembly committees mobilize locally and connect through a shared agenda that addresses local and national challenges. The No More Lies video series was created to correct false information with documented facts and honest testimonies, based on the lives and experiences of immigrants and low-wage workers.
The NDLON website has Know Your Rights information in Spanish and English that people can download. There are also programs supporting workers rights and immigrants rights and the NDLON legal team “provides representation in individual removal cases to support NDLON’s ongoing campaigns, build organizing power, and defend immigrants’ rights.”
One campaign that is a big focus for NDLON given the current political climate is Adopt a Day Labor Corner. Allies who are not at risk of deportation are showing up at corners where day laborers gather for work. They offer support and information, as well as document and report any ICE activity. I’m starting a shift at my local Home Depot next month.
As NDLON says, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo. Only the people save the people.” If you’d like to join them in their mission you can view this calendar of training events, sign up to become a volunteer, shop for merch or make a donation. You can also amplify their work on social media by following NDLON on Facebook or Instagram and subscribing to their YouTube channel.
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