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African American Labor Workers Rally For Equal Employment Rights

Local African American labor workers rallied Wednesday for equal employment rights. 

The Los Angeles Black Worker Center and other activists gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday in protest because they believe qualified black workers looking for construction jobs have not been given an equal chance at employment.

"African Americans who are trained and qualified and in many cases more qualified than the people who are on those sites should be apart of the working class of people in Los Angeles," said Ron Hasson of the NAACP.

A new study released by the LABWC showed that black workers are underrepresented in some city-funded construction projects. Black workers make up only 4 percent of the workers in the Hanover company's 1000 Grand Avenue development project. Opposingly, African American workers fill 24 percent of the quota on the Crenshaw Line construction project, which has a policy of diverse hiring.

Hanover released a statement in response stating, "The heart of Hanover is its people. We rely on our employees to distinguish us from our competition; which is why our company invests significant resources to attract and retain the best people in our business."

The protestors are presenting a petition with thousands of current signatures to the city council. They hope to have council members create a office of labor standards and enforcement to ensure more diverse work places in the city.

COMMENTS

until you get serious about wanting jobs and contracts you have to take action,speeches abd signatures are one part of passive action, to sut down some of thoes sites says you mean business. that's how we did it in thee 60's direct action.I am an old labor orginazer from Chicago. we should learn from the past how it was done.at some point we have to get up off our Knees , stop begging for what is rightful ours.When your Leaders are on the man's payroll they can't fight for you. speeches are great words that are soon forgotten means nothing.

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