Every workman, artisan, mechanic, laborer or other person who performs any work or labor or provides any service in the erection, construction, repair or removal of any building or other structure or improvement appurtenant thereto, or who alters or improves the real property whereon the same stands, or to which it may have been removed, by virtue of a contract for such work and labor directly with the owner thereof, shall have such a lien for his or her compensation as is mentioned in section one of this article.