IMMIGRANT LATINO DAY LABORERS IN NEW JERSEY: BASELINE DATA FROM A PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH PROJECT

This study reflects the collaborative efforts of university-based researchers, New Labor, a non-profit, membership-based worker center, the Laborers' International Union of North America New Jersey Chapter (LIUNA), and the N.J. Laborers Health and Safety Fund to develop a greater understanding of the needs, experiences, attitudes, and practices of the Latino day-labor workforce in New Jersey. Survey and qualitative data presented in this study address several questions about which there is currently very little information. These results strongly suggest that a significant subgroup of day laborers are both aware of and concerned about the dangers they face, open to opportunities for Spanish-language training, and despite challenges, ready to use what they learn about health and safety. As a reflection of the perceptions and reports of roughly 150 day laborers, this project provides further validation of the importance of stakeholder involvement in research and training among hard-to-reach worker populations.