Domestic Workers Finally Get Their Rights

by James Parks, Aug 31, 2010

Caregivers, nannies and housekeepers are celebrating across New York State today. This morning, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) signed into law the first-ever  law in the nation that upholds domestic workers’ rights.  Domestic Workers United (DWU) estimates there are 200,000 domestic workers in New York City alone. Most are female immigrant workers.

The new law provides guaranteed sick days, overtime pay, a day of rest and protection from discrimination. This groundbreaking victory is a result of a six-year campaign led by DWU and supported by a broad coalition of labor and community organizations, including Jobs with Justice. 

“Today we correct an historic injustice by granting those who care for the elderly, raise our children and clean our homes the same essential rights to which all workers should be entitled,” Paterson said.

I am grateful to the sponsors for their extraordinary efforts to enact this landmark bill, and most of all to those domestic workers who dreamed, planned, organized and then fought for many years, until they were able to see an injustice undone.

Click here and here to read more about the domestic workers’ struggle for justice.

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