www.newsandletters.org
|
|
NEWS & LETTERS, November-December 2005Domestic workers meet to end abusesNew York--On Oct. 8, 12 women testified at a "Domestic Workers Human Rights Tribunal" to horror stories of abuse. The women, mostly immigrants, were forced to enter domestic work to feed their families. All were paid very little and less than they had been promised. All were overworked--not only 18-hour days but some perpetually on call. All lacked any benefits, and many were physically or mentally mistreated. A woman from the Philippines described an employer who would not allow her to use the family’s plates and utensils and made her scrub the floor on her hands and knees. An Indian woman was brought to the U.S. by a "boss." The employer paid the boss $1,200 a month, the boss sent her parents $200 a month, and she received nothing. After the employer hit her, neighbors helped her go to the police. A Zambian woman who worked from 6:00 am to midnight, seven days a week, was paid $250 a month, slept on the living room floor, and was not allowed to talk to anyone. "Animals are treated better," she said. "We cannot let our children and grandchildren experience this. We must get the dignity, respect and justice we deserve." The "tribunal" decided that the state should pass a "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights," extending greater labor law coverage to domestic workers. Other professionals talked about the need for the federal government and the UN to address the issue. The problem with relying upon changes in law is that there needs to be the will and money to enforce it. There is little government enforcement of existing labor laws and no reason to believe capitalism will permit effective reforms. This problem was not addressed. One of the "judges" at the "tribunal" was Ida La Blanc from the Union of Domestic Workers of Trinidad and Tobago. "We are making trouble and we are making history," she proclaimed. Her union has gotten more rights on paper than the proposed "bill of rights" for New York would provide. "What we really want is recognition of domestics as workers," she said. "Our demands are due to us as women." Her proposal that women all over the world stop working--"that will stop society"--was met with cheers. The good news at the event was that many domestic workers are organizing into self-help groups, cooperatives and unions, and the movement is international. Their spirit was manifested by the 200 or so women in attendance, who ended the event by chanting "Free, free, domestic workers/ End, end, slavery." --Participant |
|
Home l News & Letters Newspaper l Back issues l News and Letters Committees l Dialogues l Raya Dunayevskaya l Contact us l Search Published by News and Letters Committees |
