VOZ

Celebration of the First Day Laborer Hire Site in Portland!

Romeo — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:02:47 +0000

On Friday June 13th starting at 4:00pm, day laborers, supporters, day laborers from Casa Latina in Seattle, community organizations, Mayor Tom Potter, City Commissioner Randy Leonard gathered to celebrate the historic inauguration of Portland’s first day laborer hire site.

There was a soccer game, food and music made by day laborers, even posters featuring art made by day laborers that were dedicated and given to the Mayor. Between applause, tears, smiles and the ribbon cutting by the Mayor, the opening of the center on June 16th was made official. See more photos on Flickr.

Between chants of “Si se pudo!” and “Arriba los jornaleros!” we united with around 60 other centers throughout the country. Together we have had success creating more secure and humane alternatives for day laborers to find jobs in a safe and professional environment.

You can help further this great achievement by hiring a day laborer during the next few weeks. A job will help fulfill their immediate needs and help them be able to feed themselves.

For the day laborers there is no job too big or too small. Please call 503-752-3619 or you can personally sopt by 240 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Hire Site Opening June 16, 2008

Romeo — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:16:46 +0000

Opening of Day Labor Hire Site Postponed Until June 16, 2008

Romeo — Sat, 03 May 2008 00:21:49 +0000

Friends of VOZ

The long anticipated opening of the Day Labor Hire Site, has met with a small delay. We are committed to having a successful operation for both the neighbors and workers. With this in mind, we have decided to delay the opening of the site until June 16 while we work out some logistical issues. This delay will allow us to ensure a more successful opening and the long term success of the work site.

Day Laborer Center a historic victory!

Romeo — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:05:05 +0000

On Wednesday, March 5th, 2008, Portland‚s City Council unanimously approved funding for VOZ‚s new day labor center. This is a historic victory for VOZ and the day laborers, which will allow Portland to join with other cities around the country that have benefitted from day labor centers. As Mayor Potter voted in favor, he added, “As several of the commissioners have pointed out, this is about basic human dignity.”

The chamber in City Hall was filled with supporters wearing stickers that said “I support the day labor site!”, and over 20 people testified in support of VOZ, the day laborers, and the center. The City Council did not simply take a vote in favor of the center; they spoke out in strong support of the day laborer‚s right to look for work, and their contributions to the Portland community and economy. After the meeting, day laborers and supporters gathered in the hall, chanting ¡Si se puede!

Day Laborers are a long established community who for over twenty years has successfully met business and labor needs in metropolitan Portland. A Day Laborer Center will cultivate the integration of day laborers, with full responsibilities, into the community where they live, seek employment and work.

A highly visible and accessible Day Laborer Center will help to streamline the process of connecting day laborers and employers. The Center will ensure that workers are able to put in an honest day’s work and receive an honest day’s pay, help maintain a minimum wage, safe working conditions, and discourage wage gouging.
VOZ is looking forward to opening the day labor center in Northeast Portland in early May!

Poema del Jornalero

Romeo — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:56:30 +0000

As one plows
Furrows in the earth
So the day laborer plows,
With his passes,
The corners,
It is obvious that in his mind
He pictures his family
Who he loves
Who yearn for him, and wait for him.

Who is he…?
He who comes from afar
To water foreign lands
With his sweat?
He…He is a man
Called a day laborer,
Neither cold,
Nor rain,
Will detain him.

Eligio Mendoza

Day Laborer

Traditional Celebration of our Lady of Guadalupe

Romeo — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:52:04 +0000

Between the Day Laborers and Saint Francis of Assisi Church

December 12, 2007

This tradition began a few years ago with a group of day laborers who wanted to thank our Lady of Guadalupe for the work opportunities, and to ask her for continued protection in our daily struggle to look for work on the street corners

There will be:
Procession,
Prayer in the church,
Music dedicated to the Virgin,
and delicious Mexican tamales

Program

8:00 am: Procession and “Las Mañanitas” starting from the corner of I-84 and MLK
8:15 am: We will pass by the second corner of 6th and Burnside
8:30 am: Prayer service in Saint Francis Church on S.E. 12th Avenue and Pine
9:30 am: Breakfast

Close soccer game between Day laborers last weekend Portland Vs Seattle

Ignacio — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:16:17 +0000

On Sunday, November 18, 2007, there was a great soccer game between the VOZ team of Portland, Oregon day laborers and the Casa Latina day laborers of Seattle, Washington.
This type of sports event is becoming a tradition now that this is the third consecutive year these two teams have played; the purpose has been to maintain communication and mutual support between the day laborers of both cities. The game was a good opportunity for the day laborers to spend time together, exchange personal and work experiences, in order to have an idea about how day laborers from two northwest cities live.
The soccer game was hard fought and in 90 minutes the score was tied at 3 goals. The Seattle team scored the first two goals, but the Portland team managed to tie the game, scored another goal, making it 3-2. The Seattle team recuperated and in the last minute tied the game. Afterward, Seattle broke the tie in overtime.

It was rainy with low temperatures, but that did not stop the two teams from participating. Both teams had support during the entire game.

We will try to continue these sporting events because it is a great
opportunity for day laborers from these two cities to be together and
supporting one another. Congratulations to Seattle for its win.
We’ll see you soon for a revenge match!

Gran Baile de Salsa/Solidarity Salsa Party

Romeo — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:36:11 +0000

Friday September 21st at 8:00 PM
SEIU 503 Dance Hall
6401 SE Foster Rd

VOZ and Jobs with Justice present: A Solidarity Salsa Party Fundraising Event.

The event will include: Local Salsa DJ, silent auction, dance lessons, informational tables, food and drinks and more!

Tickets cost $15 and are on sale now!

Dance lessons from 8-9pm
For tickets and information or to volunteer, contact VOZ (503)233-6787. or JWJ (503)236-5573

Gran Baile de Salsa

Viernes 21 de Septiembre

SEIU 503 Salon de Baile
6401 SE Foster Rd
Hora-8:00pm

VOZ y Jobs With Justice Presentan: Gran Baile de Salsa para recaudar Fondos. En el evento habrá: DJ local , clases de-baile, mesas de Informaciòn, subasta silenciosa, comida, bebidas y Mucho Más!

La clase de baile comienza de 8-9 pm

Boletos $15 dolares

Si quieres comprar tu boleto antes o ser voluntario para este evento llama a: VOZ (503) 233-6787 o JWJ (503) 236-5573

IV Convencion Nacional de Jornaleros y Jornaleras

Romeo — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:17:04 +0000

The 4th National Day Laborer Convention

“Working Today and Weaving Tomorrow”
National Labor College
10000 New Hampshire Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20903

Goals:

Strengthening the structure and by-laws of NDLON y at the same time
promoting a sense of unity, solidarity, brotherhood and fraternity between
everyone so that somehow or other we transform the national day labor
community.

Approve the general outlines for determining the job of the national
network over the next two years.

Strengthen the day labor organizations to make an impact on the regional
political context with respect to how municipalities intend to resolve the
day labor phenomenon.

Expand and strengthen the ties with sister organizations and allies;
including syndicates, academic institutions, civil rights groups,
communities of faith and public institutions, among others.

Expand the technical abilities and improve the conduct of day laborers and
organizers so that their position as directors and educators would be based
on critical analysis, strategy and democratic principles.

To bring the voices of the day laborers to Washington, D.C. in order to
tell their stories in front of Congress, the Press and National
Organizations.

To continue educating the elected officials so they support a just
immigration reform that is all inclusive and has a path to citizenship and
equality. One that guarantees that day laborers will directly benefit.

Rebuild in a systematic fashion the diverse cultural expressions of the day
labor community so that it creates true organizational and educational
tools.

Northwest Day Laborer Conference

Romeo — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:39:41 +0000

More than 25 day laborers and organizers of the states of Washington and Oregon attended the second Northwest Day Laborers’ Conference at Reed College in Portland on June 23-25, 2007 which was coordinated by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

It was an exchange of experiences, celebration and everyone present felt the spirit of solidarity. Sharing, teaching and learning was the theme that arose during the meeting.

The assembly focused on the internal difficulty the day laborers face, especially those in Portland and Cornelius who fight tirelessly to maintain their corners before those who do not want their presence in front of businesses or residences.
The conference approached these themes: the analysis of the day laborer power, legislative analysis about immigration, how a bill is converted into a law, principal proposals, how a proposal would affect or benefit day laborers, how to lobby, rights and strategies about raids, how to better communicate regionally in order to strengthen the support, etc.

The Regional Convention humanized the day laborer worker through art and culture. During the talent evening, day laborers sang, recited poems and acted. The day laborers told other communities and the world that besides doing heavy and dirty work, they are singers, poets, and actors.

The day laborers gave a press conference in which they spoke against the bill that actually was discussed in the Senate because it would exclude a part of them. In order for this community of day laborers to support the proposal, there need to be substantial changes that go from the cost, reuniting family, the point system, guest worker programs, the prerequisite of having fulltime work among others. We, as day laborers, feel we are outside of the debate and the bill presented in the Senate does not approach our necessities. Instead of helping us, this bill would make our situation worse. There was conversation about the Del Monte raid which was covered by Channels 2, 6, and Univisión in Spanish which was seen at a national level. We visited local Congress members David Wu and Earl Blumenauer to talk with them about their support of a legalization that includes the day laborers. It was a total success!