May Day Movie Screening on Temp Work Tragedy

FILM SHOWING OF ‘A DAY’S WORK‘; SUNDAY, MAY 1st, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. @ Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street, Ithaca

Suggested Donation $10, no one will be turned away for lack of funds

Including audience discussion with the filmmaker, Dave DeSario and OSHA Compliance Specialist, Ron Williams, at conclusion of film.

Recently, Carlos Gutierrez, Safety and Health Trainer for the Tompkins County Workers’ Center, performed a training in Occupational Safety and Health Rights for a group of immigrants, who are working in mall maintenance. When Carlos asked one of the workers just who he worked for, the young man replied, “Frank.” It turns out they work through a temporary agency, but work full time in the Carousel Mall in Syracuse. So, who is responsible if there is a safety or health issue at their workplace: 1) “Frank”?, 2) the temp agency? or 3) the Mall?

Day Davis’ family found out the hard way that no one took responsibility for Day. On his first day at a temp job at a Baccardi Rum bottling factory in Florida, he was killed as a result of callous disregard for the young man’s life.

Join us for a showing of the film telling Day Davis’ story and how his family dealt with the aftermath of his tragic death. The movie also explores the fastest growing class of American workers – temporary and contingent workers.

The Alliance for the American Temporary Workforce reports that on any one day in the country, there are 3 million temp workers, one in every 50 workers. They are employed in every industry and occupation. What started in the clerical workforce, has spread to all occupations. Now only 20% of temps are clerical workers.

Temporary workers are not employed by the company they work for every day. Thus, they often do not know who to speak to about concerns, or how to exercise their rights in the workplace. Employees of staffing agencies have fewer legal rights than the direct hire counterparts and earn on average 22% less than same-skilled company employees.

The employees of temporary staffing agencies are about 50% more likely to be injured on the job. OSHA, as a result of these trends, launched a Temporary Worker Initiative three years ago, creating resources for temp workers and clearer responsibilities for employers.

Sunday, May 1, 4:30-6:30pm at Cinemapolis – suggested donation $10, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Co-sponsored by the Midstate COSH (Council for Occupational Safety and Health) – leading the fight for safe and healthy workplaces.