Observation of a Day Labor Site
Tamiko Hall
Colorado Christian University
Observation of a Day Labor Site
The focus of this observation paper was to observe the new City of Garland day labor site.
This site opened on Saturday February first 2013. We visited this site on April 3rd 2013 at
approximately 8:15 a.m. until around 9:45 a.m. Our goal was to talk with the key people
involved in the day labor project. We inquired about this programs working status. Is this
program benefiting the people who come here looking for work? We choose this site because of
the interest in immigration by the U.S. and how do these immigrants find work in the United
States. Our goal is to find out how this pilot program is working, how it is run and has it been
successful so far.
The area that this day labor site is in was not what we expected. It is in the East Central area
of Garland. When driving East on Bell road and turning South on 25th street you pass an area
with chain linked fence. We were expecting a building with parking, offices with a lobby area for
the workers to sit, indoor restrooms and air conditioning. To our surprise there were no buildings
only picnic benches with green tarps above them. Portable outhouses were provided but no
misting systems to keep the workers cool during the Texas summer heat. There was no formal
office, just a notebook and containers with lottery tickets in them for the workers to register in. A
circular driveway served as a pickup area. Yet these men organized themselves with a system
that was working and would find a way to entertain themselves by playing the guitar and visiting
among themselves. They provided coffee, water and snacks by way of donations that each
worker would put into a container on a volunteer basis. Day labor hours are Monday thru
Saturday from 5:00 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. The busier months are April until around...