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Featured Guest Blogger March 4th, 2009

Yolanda Wu is Co-President and Co-Founder of A Better Balance: The Work & Family Legal Center, a legal advocacy organization based in New York City. A Better Balance engages the government, the private sector, and individuals to create family-friendly law and policy. Please note that the views of our guest bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sloan Work and Family Research Network.

During these hard economic times, household workers report that abuses are increasing as their employers face strain in their own lives. Nannies are facing lay-offs without severance or other protections. Housecleaners are suffering unjust firings or wage cuts. Many household workers have been given additional responsibilities for the same pay.

Fortunately, a dedicated group of domestic workers and their allies are organizing to make things better. Last month, over 250 people went to Albany to urge legislators to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (A1470/S2311). Nannies, housecleaners, eldercare providers, and their supporters from employer groups, labor unions, religious organizations, and schools held more than 60 meetings with legislators.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights would provide comprehensive workplace rights and standards such as paid vacation and sick time, an annual cost of living adjustment, one day of rest per week, notice of termination and severance, and health insurance coverage. It recently passed the New York State Assembly Labor Committee by a vote of 25 to 1, and has been introduced in the Senate. Another lobby day is planned for April to keep up the pressure.

The financial crisis highlights the urgent need for action on the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Nannies and other household workers, who number 200,000 in New York City alone, play a huge role in supporting families and our economy. These vulnerable workers deserve basic labor standards and protection.

It’s heartening that many employers of domestic workers, including the over 70 members of the Employers for Justice Network who traveled to Albany, support the passage of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. These employers support this bill because they want guidance and standards. What would it take to persuade more employers of domestic workers to join the effort?

To learn more:

• Domestic Workers United

• Employers for Justice Network, Jews for Racial Justice

• Domestic Workers United & Datacenter. (2006). Home is where the work is: Inside New York’s domestic work industry. Retrieved from http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/media/files/6/homeiswheretheworkis.pdf

• Zieminski, N. (2008, December 18). N.Y. domestic workers seek protection amid tough times. Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4BH55V20081218

• Scelfo, J. (2008, December 10). Trickledown downsizing. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/garden/11domestics.html?partner=rss

• Ruiz, A. (2008, November 28). Domestic workers earned rights bill. New York Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_domestic_workers_earned_rights_bill.html

• National Employment Law Project. (2008). Testimony of Annette Bernhardt. Hearing before the New York State Assembly Committee on Labor. The conditions surrounding domestic employment in New York State. Retrieved from http://nelp.3cdn.net/2382ec8c4a6bd5fc89_tym6b547y.pdf

• Dependent Care , Low Wage , Policy