Workers Defense Project Protests Unpaid Wages

This is a Z Graphix Production, Directed by Jason Cato and
Produced by Jeffry Zavala.

Workers Defense Project and community supporters gathered outside a Luxury Condo in Austin to protest a developer for the $20,000.00 in unpaid wages owed to eleven workers who worked on their work site.

In the context of economic downturn, where low-wage workers bear the burden of hard times, Workers Defense Project is calling upon the developer to take responsibility for the labor abuses on their work site.

In October and November of 2008, Antonio Melo, Antonio Olvera, Fausto Elias, and 8 other workers worked for a subcontractor of the developer to perform masonry work on the apartments in East Austin. The subcontractor never paid the eleven workers for their work and they are still owed nearly $20,000 in back wages.

The Workers Defense Project has tried to resolve the issue directly with the developer and their subcontractors. The developer negotiated with PDL and agreed to a payment plan where they would pay $15,000 of wages owed now and $5,000 later. The agreement was drafted, the terms were all agreed upon, and then the developer backed out.

Workers, advocates and community supporters urged the developer to ensure that Austin development occurs in a way that benefits everyone in the community, including the workers who are building our city.

The developer is a local residential and commercial building company that has 30 years of experience working on construction projects in Austin. They specialize in high-end homes, town-homes, and commercial properties that range from half-million to multi-million dollar projects.

After much effort and long hours on the part of the Workers Defense Project, ultimately the developer lived up to their legal responsibility and made sure the workers were paid their due in a check for $18,000!

Photography by Jason Cato
Cinematography by Keegan Godsey and Jeffry Zavala

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Workers Defense Project
• Protest
• Austin
• Gentrification
• East Austin
• Construction
• Worker Rights
• Direct Action
• Proyecto Defensa Laboral
• Unpaid Wages