NORWALK, Conn. A group of Norwalk teenagers have heavy issues on their minds child abuse, teen dating violence, human trafficking and unequal access to health care. But for Marilyn Avalos and Rebecca Porter, that isn't enough. Twice a month, the Brien McMahon High School students visit workers who stand every morning on the Lowe Street bridge, hoping for jobs.
Day laborers were chosen as a focus of Thursday's celebration of International Human Rights Day at City Hall, an annual event in Norwalk. The girls, keynote speakers for the event, spoke about the "hidden and underserved group of men" who the students of Brien McMahon's Center for Youth Leadership have worked with for six years.
"We have something in our backyard that screams for attention," said Rebecca, a junior. "Fairfield County is home to contractors and homeowners who hire day laborers, watch them perform work not always under the most humane conditions and then not pay them, or grossly underpay them."
Marilyn, a senior, said day laborers were the focus because International Human Rights Day honors the United Nation's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The declaration says every human being has "the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work, the right to just and favorable pay that covers the cost of food, clothing, housing, medical care necessary social services and the right to a standard of living that is adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family."
Center for Youth Leadership students have made 96 visits to the bridge since May 2006, said Rebecca. "Not a visit to the bridge passes without one or two of the men asking us to recover wages," she said. "And we're talking about thousands of dollars of outstanding pay in some cases. When contacted by the Center of Youth Leadership, some homeowners and contractors pay up. Many, though, ignore our pleas to pay the men even after we tell them they're breaking federal and Connecticut laws, or when we play to their sense of decency."
Marilyn said their efforts include taking the men food and clothing, helping them get health care and staffing a wage protection program. Last week, the girls signed up to become English tutors at the New Day Center, a community center for immigrants run by the Rev. Oscar Destruge.
"Look, we know there is a lot going on in the world child soldiers, the environment, human trafficking," Rebecca said. "To the surprise of some, America is not immune to these wrongs."
She offered recommendations:
Volunteer: help Norwalk's Human Relations Commission or teach English as a Second Language at the New Day Center. Or visit the Lowe Street bridge.
Invite the girls to talk about day laborers at your school, community group or civic association.
Hire day laborers. "They are skilled painters, carpenters and handymen," Rebecca said. "They are reliable, and they are eager to work."
When you hire day laborers, pay them fairly.
Report any wage abuse you hear about to the Norwalk Police Department, the Center for Youth Leadership or the Department of Labor.
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