Why May Day

May 1st, is International Workers day and marks a significant day in the labor movement. May 1, 1886 major union demonstrations in Chicago and other cities fought for and won many rights we enjoy today, such as the 8-hour work day. #EndWageTheft and Día Trabajado = Día Pagado (a day worked = a day paid) are reminders that our fight for labor justice is not over. 

Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF)  began with the vision of a community that provides opportunity and acceptance to all.  Most CIF members are day laborers, and CIF works to promote both immigrant and labor rights. Immigrant and Labor Justice are bound since immigrant workers continue to be deliberately exploited. In 3 months of 2024, CIF-– an organization of 3 full-time staff— received over $55,000 in claims of unpaid wages from jobs in the wider community.   

“Wage Theft” means that a worker is not paid for work completed. This can be underpayment per agreed terms, nonpayment, or payments that do not adhere to labor laws. Wage theft is illegal in Virginia, but there is little enforcement. Day laborers are at higher risk due to the nature of their work, often employer and worker meet the day of the job and information is not exchanged or withheld with the intent of wage theft. Additionally, some contractors subcontract their jobs and withhold payment until larger projects are done as to lessen their own financial liability. Construction and restaurant workers are much more likely to experience this, and even more likely if they are immigrants. When a group of 50 members were asked at the Centreville Labor Resource Center who had experienced wage theft, every hand went up.

How CIF Continues to Fight for Labor Justice

The Centreville Labor Resource Center offers a safe place for employer and worker to arrange terms for temporary work. The job placement process takes into account various liabilities, responsibilities, and duties of employers with their registration. Members are also given a code of conduct during registration and regular trainings, and forms of education to better equip them for employment. Each job order takes down details on the work, rate and frequency of pay, and various factors such as transportation, lunch, start time, which not only protects the worker, but models terms for job agreements arranged outside of the center.

Wage Theft Recovery and Education is another pillar of our work. In 2007 before CIF was incorporated a group of concerned neighbors surveyed the growing population of day laborers. They found that their needs in addition to work, and English lessons, were help with wage recovery. Today, it is still a major program of organizing and draw for new members.

How to Prevent Wage Theft

  1.  Collect name, phone number, address, license plates, business names whenever starting a new job.
  2. Take pictures of your work, when you start on the job site, before you take any  breaks, and at the end of the job. Photos are proof of work but also timestamped.
  3. Communicate in writing if possible when wages are not paid.
  4. Build awareness: empower your community to stand up together against unfair employers, share on social media with hashtag #EndWageTheft.

How to join us in Wage Justice