Who We Are

Workers Defense Project (WDP) is a membership-based organization that empowers low-income workers to achieve fair employment through education, direct services, organizing and strategic partnerships.

Workers Defense Project was founded in August 2002 by employees and volunteers of Casa Marianella, a local shelter, to address the problem of unpaid wages for Austin’s low-wage workers.

WDP is a worker center and part of a national movement of organizations that seek to provide low-wage workers with the resources they need to improve their working and living conditions. The project provides a source of power and hope for many low-wage workers who have little access to these important resources. WDP is one of the few organizations in Texas working to address workplace abuse faced by low-wage workers. The organization is one of the most established worker centers in the South and a leader in fighting for fair conditions for working people.

Achievements

·    Won a federal investigation into Texas’ deadly construction industry by OSHA, after WDP released a study about working conditions in the industry in our state. The study found that every 2.5 days a construction worker dies in Texas. Under the initiative, OSHA conducted nearly 900 inspections throughout the state, resulting in close to 1,500 citations and fines totaling almost $2 million. Overall the investigation resulted in a 60% increase in construction safety inspections throughout the state, saving countless lives.

·    Won paid rest breaks for Austin’s 50,000 construction workers by holding a “thirst strike” with WDP construction worker members and leaders outside of City Hall during the summer. The action drew attention of the local media, and health experts, which pressured City Council to pass a paid rest breaks ordinance for all construction workers in the city- the first of its kind in Texas.

·    Passed a statewide Wage Theft law. This bill makes it easier for police departments across Texas to arrest employers who don’t pay their workers, and closes an important loophole which allowed employers to avoid criminal theft of services charges by making a minimal payment to their workers. With the passage of this bill, thousands more workers are now able to recover their well-deserved wages.

·    Trained over 13,000 low-wage workers’ about their employment rights and how to best defend them.

·    Educated 95 contractors about their rights and responsibilities and provided technical assistance to build successful businesses

·    Recovered over $850,000 in back wages for 1,000 low-wage workers through legal and direct action

·  Graduated over 200 immigrant workers from WDP’s leadership development course that places a focus on building an analysis of the root causes of social inequality.

·  Graduated 88 youth from WDP’s Youth Empowerment Program that provides academic support and teaches youth about the importance of giving back to their community

·  Graduated 194 immigrant workers from English as Second language courses helping them develop their skills to find better employment opportunities

·  Won changes in city contracts to require basic safety trainings for all construction workers on city-funded sites.

·  Defeated Anti-Day Labor Bill HB 904 at the state level that sought to prohibit government agencies from constructing or operating day labor centers that service undocumented immigrants. WDP spearheaded a campaign against this bill by forming a coalition with the ACLU of Texas, Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) and the Texas AFL-CIO to defeat this bill;

·  Defeated an Anti-Day Labor Ordinance that was proposed by City Council that sought to make public solicitation—including seeking work—illegal, and would have adversely affected hundreds of day laborers. WDP formed a broad coalition and defeated the bill, and won the passage of a pro-day-labor resolution by City Council, reaffirming their commitment to provide better services at day laborer centers and creating a Day Labor Advisory Committee with a seat designated for a day laborers