SURESTAFF, Inc Rebuked by Workers and Community Leaders for Labor Law Violations February 2, 2006 CHICAGO – Day labor workers and their allies convened a public meeting to challenge the labor practices of Surestaff, Inc. at St. Sylvester’s Church Thursday evening. Surestaff is a day labor agency which operates in Chicago and the suburbs. Workers charge Surestaff is in violation of the new state Day Labor Services Act, which went into effect January 1, 2006. Before a packed room brightly lit for television cameras, workers relayed stories of repeated and flagrant disregard for their rights and safety by the agency. Santos Saldago was injured at McCormick Place last May while on a Surestaff work ticket. “Since then I have not been able to work because my leg is not well,” he said. “They have not done anything for me. When I went to the Surestaff office, the secretary told me I should go to my private doctor because the agency would not accept responsibility for my injuries.” He added, “What I want is justice and the pay that I have missed. I want to get my health back so I can work again." Raquel Arroyo, a Surestaff day laborer for two years said, "When workers speak out for their rights they suffer recrimination from the agency. Then they make fun of us and tell us to go speak to San Lucas. And they say that San Lucas won't do anything because the owners are in charge there and not San Lucas. A lot of people won't speak out because Surestaff takes revenge and will not send them out to work. They retaliate against them. I'm sick of that. I want justice." Dave Mehr an owner of the agency, initially accepted an offer to appear at the meeting and then canceled hours before the meeting. However, the company did send two employees in his place. After hearing testimony from the workers, Luis Rodriguez, a Surestaff manager, declined to comment or address the meeting. Luis Dieppa, the chief of staff to Alderman Rey Colom was also present. He stated, "After this meeting here, I will go back and report to the alderman and give him detail for detail of what what just transpired here. As far as support from the Alderman, you can count on it 150%." At the end of the meeting, SLWC worker leaders demanded the owners of Surestaff immediately cease the violations and recriminations and further promised that charges would be filed with the Illinois Department of Labor.