Poverty wages for day laborers recruited for inauguration

[dcsmart]

In the non-stop coverage of the numerous celebrations taking place in Washington, the media has generally failed to note what makes them function—the huge temporary workforce hired for the meetings, brunches, concerts, nighttime galas, and mass outdoor events.

For those serving the wealthy and politically connected—chauffeurs, valets, banquet servers, bartenders—the need for high-quality service at a unique event often offers jobs paying $20-30 an hour. Many part-time and full-time service workers will welcome bringing home several hundred dollars a night for a few days, an increasingly rare occurrence in these dismal economic times.

For those serving the general public, however, this author found that poverty-wage day labor is being used to clean up the massive outdoor events. The job description recruiting for this work, seen through the window of a Labor Ready temporary staffing office in Richmond, Virginia, is worth quoting in full:

Time to be in branch: Will know Friday (Probably 5 am)
How Long Job Lasts: With travel time—15 hours plus / Please be aware travel time is not paid
Pay: $7.55 an hour
Job Duties: trash pickup / horse manure pickup (no joke!)
Dress Attire: Must dress warm—gloves/hats/scarves/extra liners/jackets. You will not be able to go if you don't dress warm.
LONG HOURS / TEDIOUS WORK / OUTSIDE IN FREEZING WEATHER / HIGH SECURITY / NO BAGS ALLOWED / PLEASE BE AWARE

In summary, one will be paid $7.55 an hour to tediously pick up trash and horse manure in freezing cold weather for long hours. Workers will not be paid for the five to seven hours of waiting and travel to the job site, and despite long travel time and one 15 hour-plus workday, no bags are allowed.
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FULL ARTICLE
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/dlab-j20.shtml