A lot has changed since our last blog entry. Former lead organizer Ai-Jen Poo has moved on to be the director of the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance and organizer Priscilla Gonzaléz is now the Executive Director of Domestic Workers United.
On July 1, 2010, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The legislation is the FIRST in the United States to recognize domestic workers as real workers! Finally we have the recognition and respect we’ve fought so hard to achieve.
After 75 years of exclusion from labor laws and a 6-year legislative campaign to secure basic protections in New York State, domestic workers—nannies, housekeepers and elderly caregivers—have triumphed!
Governor Patterson is set to sign the bill into law during a ceremony sometime in mid-August—stay tuned for more details on this historic event.
DWU and the Bill of Rights have been ALL OVER the news lately! Check out these pieces:
The Nanny Uprising-- New York Magazine
Albany Approves No Fault Divorce and Domestic Worker's Rights-- New York Times
Albany Approves No Fault Divorce and Domestic Worker's Rights-- New York Times
Hooray for Albany? State Legislature Acts to Boost Working People and the Economy-- The Huffington Post
We are planning on updating this blog more regularly with exciting features such as weekly themes, member stories, upcoming events and more. We want to keep our readers connected with everything that is going on with DWU as well as the greater activism community and related social movements, so keep checking back!
