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“For many in the legislature it was a huge learning curvebecause the concept of rights for domestic workers was soalien to them,” says Ai-jen. “For many domestic workersthere was great fear of being exposed, of losing theirjobs or being blacklisted for taking part in the campaign.We had resistance from employers because while manyappreciated that domestic workers were entitled torights, they were scared of losing their affordable homecare.”In 2010, DWU succeeded in helping pass the New YorkState Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers, the UnitedStates’ first comprehensive piece of legislation protectingdomestic workers. Among other provisions, the bill setout the right to overtime pay, a day of rest every sevendays, paid holidays and protection under state humanrights law.“What was crucial were the alliances we made,” says Aijen.“We spent years building relationships with employers,with labour unions and other workers’ groups. Manyof our champions in the legislature were the sons anddaughters of domestic workers.”In the past five years, the DWU has been working ontrying to ensure successful implementation of the bill,through expanding their outreach programmes andcontinuing to build strong networks with employers, whoare the crucial link to ensuring that the provisions in thebill are upheld.“It’s always going to be a struggle ensuring that domesticworkers realize their rights because there is still a hugeculture of respecting the privacy of the family home,”says Ai-jen. “What we’re now focusing on is ensuringthat employers know what their legal responsibilities areand workers know how to ensure that their terms andconditions clearly reflect the rights they are entitled tounder this legislation.”Organizers rally in the streets for better recognition of the rights of domesticworkersPhoto: NDWA“The work of womencontinues to beundervalued andexploited and nowhereis that clearer than inhow we treat ourdomestic workers”Since the bill has passed, momentum has continuedto build around domestic worker rights both in the USand internationally. In July 2013, Hawaii followed NewYork’s lead and became the second state to pass labourprotections for domestic workers, followed by Californiain January 2014 and Massachusetts in July 2014.In 2013, the first ILO convention on domestic workerscame into force, which Ai-jen considers a “huge driver forchange”. She says many domestic workers in countriesaround the world are using the demand for nationalratification of this convention as a rallying cry forcollective action.“Our movement is about creating not only a dignifiedworking environment for domestic workers but a morecaring society – one that recognizes that addressing therights of domestic workers is fundamental to addressingsocial inequality across the world,” she says.Story: Annie Kelly. For more information on NDWA, see www.domesticworkers.org67