A Fair Day's Wages: Liberty, Legality, and Liability Among Denver's Day Laborers

Day laborers occupy an essential position in Denver’s booming construction industry. Day laborers make up a highly flexible, highly effective workforce able to respond to market changes. For day laborers, informal day-labor gathering points provide increased control over working hours and employee-employer relationships when compared to traditional wage labor. Still, recent legislation and policies around irregular migration has forced large numbers of workers who may have benefited from the stability of full-time regular employment into the informal sector. The day laborers’ flexibility also exposes them to employers constantly inventing ways to deny them the wages and benefits they are owed. Despite changes in Colorado law in attempts to strengthen workers’ recourse against their employers, and despite social and individual tactics day laborers employ to mitigate their vulnerability, systematic structural, symbolic, and everyday violence continue to advantage employers.

Folk singers during Labour Day march Brisbane 1965

Folk singers during the Labor Day procession, in Brisbane, Australia, May 1965. One person holds a banner relating to the S.S. Binburra

Participants with Equal pay placard during Labour Day march Brisbane 1965

Participants with Equal pay placard in Brisbane, Australia, during the Labor Day procession, May 1965.

Marchers with banners during Labour Day march Brisbane 1965

Marchers with banners in Brisbane, Australia, during the Labor Day procession, May 1965.

Aussie don't be led by the nose - withdraw troops from Vietnam

Two men on back of Vanguard utility during Labour Day procession 1966, Brisbane, Australia. One is dressed as Uncle Sam. He is leading the other by the nose. The second man is dressed as an Australian soldier. Placards on utility read "Don't be led by the nose - withdraw troops from Vietnam".

Group of marchers during Mayday procession 1966 Brisbane, Australia

Group of marchers during Mayday procession 1966 Brisbane, Australia including children and dog. The group is passing Pearl Assurance House in Queen Street, Brisbane. Marchers have flags and banners relating to anti war and anti nuclear tests.

Girl with dog during Mayday procession 1966 Brisbane, Australia

Girl with dog during Mayday procession 1966 Brisbane, Australia. Bystanders including policeman are outside the Bank of New South Wales building in Queen Street, Brisbane.

No apartheid for our Aborigines

Marchers during the May Day 1968 procession in Brisbane, Australia holding placard No apartheid for our Aborigines - give them full citizenship & education

Equal pay for equal work

Truck from Jackson Pty Ltd with banner for equal pay for equal work during the 1965 May Day march, in Roma Street, Brisbane, Australia. Truck also has Queensland Trades and Labour Council of Queensland and affiliated unions banner. Facade of buildings including Vetoy and Foley Bros can be seen in the background.

Fighting Jacky could not save Mackie - Mayday 1965, Brisbane

Placard on the back of a truck during the Mayday march in Brisbane, Australia, May 1965.

Trade unionists unite to win banner in Mayday march Brisbane 1965

Truck with banner Trade unionists unite to win in Brisbane, Australia, during the Labor Day procession, May 1965. Truck has another banner Trades and Labor Council of Queensland and affiliated unions.

Free Zarb banner in Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia 1969

Free Zarb banner in Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia 1969Truck has another banner Trades and Labor Council of Queensland and affiliated unions. Banner reads Free Zarb and other political prisoners - gaoled for refusing to kill, end conscription. Facade of KR Darling Downs building can be seen in the background.

Marchers in Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia 1969

Marchers in Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia 1969. They hold flags and one has placard reading Give a guerilla gun, support revolution now.

WWF Peace Committee float during Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia

WWF Peace Committee float during Mayday procession in Brisbane, Australia. Banners include Drop prices not bombs and World peace for a better life. Men women and children are aboard the truck, some in costume.

Mounted police during Mayday procession 1965 Brisbane Australia

Mounted police during Mayday procession 1965 Brisbane Australia.