ASSEMBLY TO VOTE TODAY!

NEWS CONFERENCE

ASSEMBLY TO VOTE TODAY ON BILL TO INCLUDE DOMESTIC WORKERS IN LABOR LAWS -- NANNIES REACT IN THE PARKS, CALLING ON SENATE TO PASS FIRST DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS

Nannies, Housekeepers and Caregivers Demand that Women?s Work is Protected

New York, NY June 22, 2009? Tomorrow New York?s nannies, housekeepers and caretakers will gather in Washington Square Park, to educate other domestic workers on a new Assembly bill to include domestic workers in existing the labor laws. A significant reversal of a long history of exclusion and discrimination, domestic workers will support the Assembly?s efforts while urging New York State Senators to go further, including basic labor standards like notice of termination, paid sick days and paid holidays.

At tomorrow?s news conference in Washington Square Park, a traditional meeting place for nannies and caregivers, domestic workers will be joined by employers, labor leaders and other supporters to discuss the next steps in the Senate to establish basic labor standards, set a strong national precedent and pass the first Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

Today?s Assembly ?inclusion bill? covers overtime after 40 hours per week, one day of rest per week, inclusion in state human rights and collective bargaining laws, and inclusion of part-time domestic workers in disability laws. It also mandates the Commissioner of Labor conduct a study on the feasibility of domestic workers achieving standards and benefits like those in the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in the absence of law.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights guarantees health care, notice of termination, severance pay, sick days, and other basic labor protections to over 200,000 domestic workers throughout New York. The New York State Senate Codes Committee has approved the full Bill of Rights and recently Governor David Patterson publicly stated that he will sign the bill once it is passed in both houses.

Recently members of Domestic Workers United took part in a week-long series of speak-outs and vigils in Albany and New York City where workers called on legislators to reverse the long history of excluding domestic workers from labor laws, and to establish basic rights and benefits for employees in private homes. The week of events culminated in a March for Respect where domestic workers, employers and their children marched through downtown Manhattan.

WHAT	News conference
WHO	Domestic Workers United, nannies, housekeepers, caregivers Domestic Employers, Labor Leaders
WHERE	Washington Square Park- UNDERNEATH THE ARCH West Village, Washington Square Park - Take any train to West 4th Street
WHEN	Tuesday, June 23, 11:30am