Day Laborers Win Big Victory at Austin City Council

 Council Withdraws Proposed Day Labor Ban; Agrees to New Advisory Committee

On December 15, 2005, the Austin City Council agreed to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would have banned most day labor solicitation from sidewalks and other public spaces anywhere in the city.  The Council instead approved a plan to set up a community advisory committee that will look for other ways to accommodate the city’s growing need for day labor while protecting the safety of day laborers and the public.

Austin day laborers – supported by the religious leaders and community groups – had mounted a campaign to persuade the City Council not to pass the new ordinance and to instead appoint just such a task force. 

They pointed out that the vast majority of day laborers are hard working men and women who are seeking jobs every day to support themselves and their families.  Noting that day laborers fill a critical need in the Austin economy, they asked the Council not to criminalize people for seeking a job.

They also pointed out that the ordinance would violate the free speech rights of day laborers and contractors.

“We are pleased that the city recognized that we just want an honest day’s work to support our families.” said Eduardo Hernandez, a day laborer and member of the Day Laborers’ Committee.

The campaign to persuade the City Council was led by the Day Laborers’ Committee, the Religion and Labor Network of Austin, the Central Texas Immigrant Workers’ Rights Center, and the Equal Justice Center.  A large number of other labor, religious and community groups also came to the support of the day laborers.

“This is a great day for day laborers in Austin.” said Emily Timm, day laborer organizer with the Central Texas Immigrant Workers’ Rights Center, a project of the Equal Justice Center. “They organized themselves, mobilized community support, presented their views to the City Council in a constructive and persuasive way, and won a huge victory.”

Tom Vandestadt, pastor of the Congregational Church of Austin and a leader in the Religion and Labor Network of Austin, said, “We thank the City Council for recognizing the real needs of a growing city and the laborers who are helping build the city.”

Two nights before the City Council vote, more than seventy day laborers, religious leaders and supporters held a candle­light prayer vigil in front of the City Hall appealing to the City Council to oppose the day labor ban.

The ordinance affecting day laborers was withdrawn from a package of other ordinance changes related to people soliciting money and sleeping on sidewalks in the downtown business district.

Read more about the ordinance and about day laborers in Austin and the U.S.