News: Domestic Workers Week of Action

Domestic Workers United (DWU) held a Week of Action from April 27 to May 1 to pass the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights. Poverty Initiative members stood in solidarity with DWU. Read their reflections and learn what you can do to support the rights of domestic workers! Sign on letters and congregational resources available.

DWU is an organization of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York who are organizing for power, respect, fair labor standards and to help build a movement to end exploitation and oppression for all people.

Domestic workers are a crucial part of New York State’s economy, yet labor law does not protect them the way it does other workers. Often working under exploitative conditions, they are barred by federal law from collective organizing into unions. Additionally, they face unique barriers to organizing because they are isolated in the homes of their employers and have difficulty negotiating with powerful employers. The Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights addresses the unfair exclusion of domestic workers from labor protections, reflects the unique conditions and demands of the industry in which they work, and clarifies employers’ obligations.

Read the NY Daily News article in support of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Poverty Initiative Report

The Domestic Workers week of action proved to be a powerful and inspiring
movement-building experience.  We at the Poverty Initiative continue to learn
from the skill and tenacity Domestic Workers United has - educating people about the
plight of domestic workers and bringing people together to fight for power,
respect, and fair labor standards that will end exploitation of all people.

Members of the Poverty Initiative played an active role in DWU’s most recent
campaign efforts:

Saturday, April 25th We joined DWU for their March for Respect through the
Upper East Side, "where Wall Street lives and domestic workers labor." The March
mobilized 400 people and followed a "Day in the Life" of a domestic worker.

Sunday, April 26th Domestic workers and pastors spoke truth to power in the
pulpits in Long Island, Westchester, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, raising awareness
among congregations about the struggles of the over 200,000 women whose work
makes all other work possible in New York.

Monday, April 27th On National Call for Action Day we organized students,
faculty, and staff at Union Theological Seminary to sign letters to Speaker
of the Assembly Sheldon Silver in support of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. 
We asked supporters to call their legislators and urge them to vote in favor of
the DW Bill of Rights.

CALL TODAY! Use the Phone Script and Phone Numbers Listed Here

Tuesday, April 28th Several members of the Poverty Initiative joined
hundreds of domestic workers and supporters in Albany to gain the
support of 80 legislatures in the passage of the
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights this year.

More Photos from the Albany Day of Action

To all who have contacted your State Assembly Member and/or Speaker Sheldon Silver. Senate staff have informed us that constituent letters are crucial to achive passage of the Domestic Worker's Bill of Rights. Join Us!
Sign and send a letter to Sheldon Silver 

Learn more about DWU at www.domesticworkersunited.org

Contact your legislator to ask her/him to support the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights

Find your legislator Here
Use the Phone Script and Phone Numbers Listed Here

Speak to your congregation about the issues faced by domestic workers
Photos, talking points, and Scripture verses

Invite a member of the Domestic Workers Speakers Bureau to give testimony to your congregation
Contact poverty@povertyinitiative.org

Become an endorser of the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights
Endorsement Form
Clergy Supporters

Watch DWU Videos
You Tube "Voices From the Field: Domestic Workers United"

ABC News "What Would You Do?"

Stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable members of our society.
Contact the Poverty Initiative at poverty@povertyinitiative.org or 1-212-280-1439.

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Phone Script in Support of Domestic Workers

Stand with domestic workers by calling Albany legislators to become co-sponsors
of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

 

Call the legislators below and say:

"My name is _________________, and I'm calling to urge you to help pass the

Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Bill numbers A1470/S2311 this legislative session.

Tomorrow, hundreds of domestic workers and their supporters will come to Albany

for a day of action and education. Please work with them to move the Domestic

Workers Bill of Rights to the floor for a vote."

 

Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver: (518)-455-3791

Chair of Labor Committee Assemblywoman Susan John: (518)-455-4527

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith: (518)-455-2701

Chair of Labor Committee Senator George Onorato: (518)-455-3486