3. What Will I Learn Today ?
1. WDP OVERVIEW
WDP History, Why Construction?
Local Victories, Texas Victories
2. PROGRAM AREAS
AET, ELS, RAP, Voter Engagement
3. VOLUNTEER IMPACT
We Need You! Ongoing Opportunities
by Program, One Time Opportunities
4. NEXT STEPS
Required Forms, Screening/Matching,
Meet Your Supervisor, First Day
Checklist, First Month Check-In
5. WDP History (2002-Present)
2006
Formally became an
independent organization
2010
Acquired 5604 Manor Road
2012
Opened our Dallas office
2002
Started out of Casa Marianella to
address wage theft
11. Unjust Wages
More than half of surveyed
construction workers receive
poverty level wages
12. 50% NO OVERTIME
71% NO BENEFITS
78% LACK HEALTH INSURANCE
22% DENIED PAYMENT
13. OSHA History (1970-Present)
1978
OSHA creates New Directions
Grant Program
1997
New Directions renamed to Susan
Harwood Training Grant Program
2012
Worker Centers like WDP, IWJ,
NDLON, etc. receive Harwood grants
1970
Congress passes the OSH Act and
creates OSHA
14. Austin now requires all employees on city sites to receive the OSHA
10 hour safety training
Austin now requires paid rest breaks for the city’s 50,000
construction workers
Austin now requires prevailing wage, workers compensation, and
safety training on all projects that receive incentive funds from the
city.
Local Victories
15. Texas Victories
● Texas employers may no longer avoid criminal theft of services charges
by making a minimal payment to their employees.
● Texas employers may no longer avoid fines when caught misclassifying
employees on state contracts - protecting not only construction
workers - but all workers employed by state contractors.
● The Texas construction industry is now subject to a 60% increase in
safety inspections, saving countless lives across the state.
18. Adult Education & Training
Membership Development
ESL Courses
Computer Classes
OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 Safety Training
Leadership Institute
19. Employment & Legal Services
Workers Rights Education for workers
Workers Rights Education for employers
Wage Recovery
Injury Assistance
Discrimination Case Assistance
20. Research & Policy
Policy and Strategic Industry Research
Grassroots Organizing and Leader Development
Community and Media Outreach on Labor issues
Collaboration w / others committed to Fair Labor standards
21. Voter Engagement
The Workers Defense Action Fund 501(c)4 seeks to build a long-
lasting infrastructure that will engage working Texans in the electoral
and legislative campaigns that affect their lives.
WDAF engages historically underrepresented voters through:
Education in Voter ID law and Voter Registration process
Education in finding and contacting their representatives
Block Walking and Phone Banking
24. To date, WDP has achieved the following, through direct service, grassroots
organizing and advocacy - done by people just like you!
200
Graduated over 200
immigrant workers from
Leadership Institute
6
Signed 6 landmark
agreements with Austin
developers
1,143,000
Recovered $1,143,000 in
back wages through
legal and direct action
60,000
Won paid rest breaks for
Austin’s 60,000
construction workers.
25. AET needs volunteers to help empower those who have
experienced injustice to lead social justice movements,
by serving as:
Member Outreach Volunteers
ESL Instructors and Tutors
Computer Class Assistants
English Partners
Adult Education & Training
26. RAP needs volunteers to engage members in organizing campaigns
that encourage their leadership development,
by serving as:
Tuesday Night Organizers
Researchers
Database and Info Maintenance Assistants
Research & Policy
27. Development needs volunteers to assist WDP with individual and
foundational fundraising, by serving as:
Grant Writers and Editors
Event Coordinators
Donor Appreciation Assistants
Daytime Sponsor Outreach Assistants
Development
28. Communications needs volunteers to reach members, donors, and
more volunteers (in print and online) by serving as:
Social Media Gurus
Graphic Designers
Phone Bankers
Translators
Communications
29. One Time Opportunities
NOV 19-21
Pilgrimage for Immigrant Families:
Volunteers will call members and
friends of WDP to invite them to the
Pilgrimage. During the event, they
will assist with logistics, childcare
and photography.
NOV 18
English Partners Night: Volunteers will join
students in our ESL classes to practice
basic conversation in English.
DEC 12
Fiesta Navidad: Volunteers will
beautify WDP campus in preparation
for the most festive member-event of
the year! During the event, they will
assist with logistics, childcare, and
photography.
NOV 07
Eastside Community Harvest Fest:
Volunteers will support AET staff in
member outreach at this resource fair
geared toward families.
32. Step 1
Required Forms
Registration Form - Be as specific
about your skills and interests as
possible.
Confidentiality Agreement
Step 2
Screening/Matching
The Volunteer Coordinator will
review your Registration form and
determine the Program of best fit.
Step 3
Meet Your Supervisor
Once matched, Program staff or
Director will contact you directly,
to schedule your first day!
Step 4
First Day Checklist
DO bring your photo i.d., personal
computer or notebook.
DON’T bring a suit n’ tie.
Step 5
First Month Check-In
After your first month of service,
the Volunteer Coordinator will
write to see how you’re doing.
The majority of WDP members labor in the construction industry (80%).
Other industries represented in our membership include:
“Texas is the most deadly place to work in the country, with 138 workers killed on the job in 2009.”
Source: Build a Better Texas Report: A report from Workers Defense Project in collaboration with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
Source: Build a Better Texas Report: A report from Workers Defense Project in collaboration with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
Source: Build a Better Texas Report: A report from Workers Defense Project in collaboration with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
“52% of construction workers (in Texas) live below the poverty line and 1 in 5 are not paid for their work.”
Source: Build a Better Texas Report: A report from Workers Defense Project in collaboration with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
“Though many unions in the state have become more supportive of immigrant workers, the building and construction trades unions (as a whole) do not represent immigrant workers even though they comprise the majority of the workforce. According to the most recent census data, at least 70% of the workforce is foreign born.”
Source: Build a Better Texas Report: A report from Workers Defense Project in collaboration with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
1970: The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary federal law which governs occupational safety and health in the private sector and federal government of the United States. It was enacted by Congress in 1970, and signed by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970. Its main goal is to ensure that employers provide employees with an environment free from recognized hazards. OSHA was created to enforce the law. 1978: OSHA established its discretionary grant program in 1978 entitled New Directions. Grantees were awarded for up to five years, with grantees increasing its share of support with the goal to become self-sufficient. Many of the grantee organizations continue to offer occupational safety and health training to this day. In 1990 the grants were restructured, due to reductions in funding.
1997: In 1997, the program was renamed in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate. During her tenure with the agency, Harwood helped develop OSHA standards. OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards. These standards limit the amount of hazardous chemicals workers can be exposed to, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. 2012: The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation. Target audiences include underserved, low-literacy, and workers in high-hazard industries.
A new statewide wage theft law makes it easier for police departments across Texas to arrest employers who don’t pay their workers; WDP has helped to recover $1,143,000 in back wages since 2008.
A new misclassification law enforces a fine of $200 per worker if the employer is operating under a government contract.
A federal investigation into the Texas construction industry resulted in nearly 1,500 citations (totaling almost $2 million), following 900 site inspections, prompting increased site monitoring by OSHA.
How to Determine if a Worker is an Employee or an Independent Contractor If a worker’s service fits the TUCA definition of employment as outlined in Section 201.041, the individual is considered an employee. The law defines employment as a service performed by an individual for wages under an express or implied contract for hire, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commission that the individual’s performance of the service has been and will continue to be free from control or direction under the contract. The three essential elements of the definition of employment are service, wages, and direction and control. Direction and control can be present in an employment relationship even if the employer does not exercise direction and control, but retains the right to do so.
Helping workers increase their potential to self-advocate and find better employment opportunities by educating them about basic rights, safety, discrimination, and the Family Medical Leave Act
Creating a better workplace by providing training to small employers about their rights as employers and responsibilities to employees
Recovering back wages for workers who have been denied payment for their work
Assisting injured workers to receive medical attention and compensation
Addresses serious workplace issues at a systemic level by organizing for better policies to protect workers at the local and state level.
Engages low-income workers in civic participation, to better advocate for themselves and their community; toward the development of a grassroots labor movement.
In 2013 alone, WDP engaged 175 volunteers in more than 11,000 hours of work!
WDP’s Leadership Institute focuses on helping workers build their own analysis of the root causes of social inequality.
This resource fair for the whole family will feature dozens of exhibitors, health and dental screenings, flu shots & immunizations, housing, education, employment and legal resources, as well as children's activities, food and live music. Saturday November 7, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM CST
Twice a semester, WDP invites English speakers to join members in our ESL classes to practice basic conversation in English. Perfect for volunteers with little-to-no Spanish.
