Gulfgate Home Depot Day Laborers

[Vertigo58]

If you're interested, and have the courage, take I45 north to Aldine Bender. Man, it is beginning to look like Westpark with all the day laborers set up and camped out in the parking lots.

Sounds like something out of a 1950's B horror flick. Reminds me of the original "Night of the Living Dead" corpses walking across fields, etc.

Bear traps come to mind.

[houstonmacbro]

Sounds like something out of a 1950's B horror flick. Reminds me of the original "Night of the Living Dead" corpses walking across fields, etc.

Bear traps come to mind.

It's not nearly that bad ...

... but it makes you wonder how the economy is affecting all aspects of life here in Houston. From the looks of it, they (day workers) are not getting work like they used to.

[Vertigo58]

... but it makes you wonder how the economy is affecting all aspects of life here in Houston. From the looks of it, they (day workers) are not getting work like they used to.

That's the bad part, no work... so turn to selling dope/prostitution.

Plus... There wb more raids at homes where these people are being held against their will (coyotes) and the crime related to pushing drugs wil increase. Set your watches.

[GREASER]

I doubt they will be selling drugs...they arent anchored here...they will just move to where the work is. New Orleans, Mex., just not here. They arent hurting too bad..they guy I use said if they are offered less than 8 they all just walk away except for the older/smaller guys.

[Gary K]

My theory is the "problem" may be making HD Gulfgate more money than the "solution".

-Gary K

[cottonmather0]

On a related note, I hired a couple of guys off the street for the first time ever last week and am glad I did. They worked hard and got the job done (filling a dumpster with about 5 yards of broken tile and concrete) very quickly and saved me from having to do it after I was beat up from spending the entire previous day on my knees with the chipping hammer and wheelbarrow. I probably paid them too much relative to the market wages, but it was still worth every penny from my perspective.

It was an interesting experience - when I pulled up to the street corner it was a mad dash with guys just SWARMING my pickup and opening the doors and climbing in (note to self - next time keep all doors locked). I had to yell and stomp my feet a couple of times and then just randomly picked two out of the 6 guys there and told them to climb into the bed of the truck. Nobody asked what kind of work it was or for how much, they just wanted in.

Like I said, it was an interesting experience, but well worth the money, and I think it changed my opinion on the value of day labor. I think I would be more likely now to support a more formal system (like an organized center for legal workers) as it was very convenient (I wasn't trying to save money) and it saved my butt.

At least that was my experience.

[GREASER]

going rate is 10$...I offered two guys 8$, (knowing the unspoken rule was 10$) then when they go to the house, they said they misunderstood and said 10$...I said no, 8 or I am taking you back.....they wanted to go back to home depot. So ok. 10$...had them dig a ditch for 3 hrs, and they were done. Said they wanted to go back, work was too hard.

Most of the time you have to supervise these guys, so its just as time consuming to do it yourself.

[samagon]

Update, twice I've been to the home depot recently and there's been a sheriff parked in the lot, and the number of laborers was down, as well they were staying on the sidewalk.

[plumber2]

Like I said, it was an interesting experience, but well worth the money, and I think it changed my opinion on the value of day labor. I think I would be more likely now to support a more formal system (like an organized center for legal workers) as it was very convenient (I wasn't trying to save money) and it saved my butt.

At least that was my experience.

Cotton: Like I said before, you are suggesting that they start a "labor union". The conservatives on this thread will consider this almost socialism. And the poor guy heading it up, the labor steward, will be branded as evil. You best just leave it alone.

[kylejack]

The last time there was a day laborer site being set up a lot of people complained. I can't remember which city it was, but it was a local Houston suburb...

[samagon]

Cotton: Like I said before, you are suggesting that they start a "labor union". The conservatives on this thread will consider this almost socialism. And the poor guy heading it up, the labor steward, will be branded as evil. You best just leave it alone.

I like to consider myself a conservative, and I would like this, it would provide a few things for both sides:

guarantees that the day labor force is documented

it would help to rid the places like HD of the biomass that just mills around pestering customers

it would help to keep those places clean

protection for the day laborer and the person getting the day labor

anyway, I would see it as less of a union for day labor, as I would a system that provides documented labor to those who want it from a centralized location. making the city not only more presentable, but helping to reduce the illegal population of day labor.

[plumber2]

I like to consider myself a conservative, and I would like this, it would provide a few things for both sides:

guarantees that the day labor force is documented

it would help to rid the places like HD of the biomass that just mills around pestering customers

it would help to keep those places clean

protection for the day laborer and the person getting the day labor

anyway, I would see it as less of a union for day labor, as I would a system that provides documented labor to those who want it from a centralized location. making the city not only more presentable, but helping to reduce the illegal population of day labor.

That's what Peek Load, Adminstaff, Texas Work Force Solution and the others do. You could always call a repair company, like "Handyman Matters". They contract individual craftsman, many with their own tools. Hiring guys off the street, even if it was organized as you suggest just seems like it's cheating.

Simple economics of supply and demand will fix the problem. Stop hiring them (demand) and they will go away (supply).

[LTAWACS]

I dont even go to Lowe's anymore either. They've taken a turn for the worse. I discovered a small mom and pop hardware store called Martini's Ace hardware. I can actually speak to someone about whatever I'm trying to do. Once or twice it was the owner himself. No more big box stores for me. This place is small and clean and very friendly.

[samagon]

That's what Peek Load, Adminstaff, Texas Work Force Solution and the others do. You could always call a repair company, like "Handyman Matters". They contract individual craftsman, many with their own tools. Hiring guys off the street, even if it was organized as you suggest just seems like it's cheating.

Simple economics of supply and demand will fix the problem. Stop hiring them (demand) and they will go away (supply).

Very true, but then you get into the price of it, and I think even if there was a central workforce location that the price would go up, and there would still be day laborers willing to do it for less. We'd be right back where we are now.

I dont even go to Lowe's anymore either. They've taken a turn for the worse. I discovered a small mom and pop hardware store called Martini's Ace hardware. I can actually speak to someone about whatever I'm trying to do. Once or twice it was the owner himself. No more big box stores for me. This place is small and clean and very friendly.

I'm a fan of Martini Hardware, the place is mom and pop and they've been there since my parents lived in the area 40 years ago. Parking isn't easy, but they are like all mom/pop hardware stores in that they have random stuff everywhere, and if you find an old guy and ask him where something is he walks you right to it.