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Invisible Workforce: Immigrant Domestic Workers Face Tough Challenges in a Push for Better Conditions

5.16.2013 | Odette Yousef | PRI's The World

Myrla Baldonado left the Philippines for Chicago six years ago. Most of her time here, she cared for elderly people in their homes, attending to their round-the-clock needs. She made their beds, fixed meals, and monitored them for symptoms of stroke or illness. Baldonado worked like this for years—putting in 96-hour weeks—at $4 an hour.

“Like most immigrants, I tried not to pay attention to it,” says Baldonado.

She said that wage was standard, what other caregivers got, too. And she needed a job.

“But then when I started being shouted at and I felt being discriminated for not being an original English speaker, I felt so bad,” says Baldonado.

Read the rest of the story at theworld.org »

White House Highlights AAPI Women as “Champions of Change”

5.2.2013

Pramila Jayapal of We Belong Together and Myrla Baldonado of Caring Across Generations to be honored in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, May 6th, the White House will honor fifteen Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women as “Champions of Change.” A part of the White House’s observance of AAPI Heritage Month, this event will recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women who are doing extraordinary things to create a more equal, safe, and prosperous future for their communities and the country.

“These fifteen women represent the strength and diversity of the AAPI community. These leaders – in business, advocacy, philanthropy, sports, the arts, and academia – are wonderful examples for young women across the country,” said Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

National group praises Hawaii on domestic workers

5.1.2013 | Associated Press | Business Week

HONOLULU (AP) — A national organization representing local groups of nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers is praising Hawaii's Legislature for passing a bill to create a domestic workers bill of rights.

The director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, said Wednesday the group is pushing to pass similar bills in other states. Hawaii would be the second state after New York with protections on wages and other issues if Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs the bill.

"This is part of a growing wave to address the injustices of the past and support today's workforce," Poo said.

The bill passed the House and Senate on Tuesday with little opposition in the heavily Democratic chambers. It covers cooks, waiters, butlers, housekeepers and other workers, including babysitters in some cases.

The bill makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone employed as a domestic worker based on race, gender, sexual orientation and other factors.

Rep. Roy Takumi, a Democrat from Pearl City, said in a statement that the bill offers a basic level of protection extended to other workers.

Hawaii Legislature Passes Historic Domestic Worker Bill of Rights

4.30.2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Tardiff, 202.746.1507, Rachel@FitzGibbonMedia.com

Governor Now Has 60 Days to Sign Bill, Make Hawaii Second State in the Nation to Extend Basic Labor Protections to Domestic Workforce

Honolulu, HI—Hawaii’s legislature passed landmark legislation to protect domestic workers from discriminatory practices and cover them under the state’s wage and hour law. If signed by Governor Neil Abercrombie, Senate Bill 535, which passed both chambers yesterday, would grant basic employee rights to domestic workers by ensuring they are eligible for minimum wage and other protections.

Domestic workers care for homes, children, and families around the country. Their work supports millions of professionals so they may to go to work knowing the most precious elements of their lives are in good hands. However, domestic workers have been excluded from the most basic federal labor protections since the New Deal, exposing them to abuse and mistreatment.

Hawaii: Bill would give domestic workers wage and employment protections

4.27.2013 | Sarah Zoellick | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii is poised to become the second state, after New York, to grant basic employee rights to in-home domestic workers by ensuring they be eligible for minimum wage, maximum hours and other protections.

House and Senate conference committee members agreed to a bill Thursday that would add domestic workers — a predominantly female, immigrant workforce often putting in long hours for little pay — to the state definition of employment.

Read more at staradvertiser.com »

More than 100 tear off masks at Capitol and Kick off Domestic Worker Bill

4.25.2013 | YubaNet

SACRAMENTO, April 24, 2013 – Domestic workers and community leaders converged in front of the state building today to kick off the journey of landmark Domestic Worker Bill AB 241 (Ammiano) through the legislature. The diverse coalition packed the Assembly Labor Committee hearing room for their vote on the bill, which would extend basic labor protections to household workers who care for California's homes and families.

Nikki Brown-Booker, an employer of domestic workers said, "My attendants help me get in and out of bed, help me shower, prepare my meals, do my laundry and drive me to work. They made it possible for me to go to college and get a Master's degree in clinical psychology. They deserve to have a workplace that they feel comfortable in and are treated with respect."

The gathering featured giant puppets and domestic workers ripping masks from their faces to shine light onto those who take care of a large majority of households in California.

Domestic workers renew push for overtime pay and breaks

4.25.2013 | Julie Small | KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Domestic Workers in Sacramento

Domestic workers are once again pushing state lawmakers to approve a bill that would give them overtime pay and breaks. Governor Brown vetoed a similar measure last year; it's unclear what his position is this time around.

There are more than 200,000 domsetic workers in California, most of them in southern California. Amelia Bernachea of Los Angeles said she earned just $70 for a 24-hour day when she recently cared for an elderly woman with Alzheimer's.  

She cooked meals, changed linens, and repositioned the woman every couple of hours to prevent bedsores.  All the while, Bernechea said the woman screamed, "From the sun down, then the whole night and morning-she yells non-stop."

Bernachea said that made it impossible to take any breaks.  Nor did she receive overtime pay for the long hours.

Read the rest, and listen, at KPCC's website »

Building a Caring Economy

4.23.2013 | Ai-jen Poo | Huffington Post

Anna, a Filipino live-in nanny in Manhattan, begins her workday at 6 a.m. when the children wake up, and ends around 10 p.m. when she puts the children to bed and finishes cleaning the kitchen. Like many domestic workers, Anna's pay is low; she was promised $1,500 a month but receives only $620, meaning that -- on average -- she is paid just $1.27 per hour.

More than 100 to tear off masks at Capitol to kick off Domestic Worker Bill

4.23.2013

Message to Legislators: We’re tired of the shadows, help unveil our work as real work

Sacramento– Domestic workers and community leaders will converge in front of the state building Wednesday April 24 to kick off the journey of landmark Domestic Worker Bill AB 241 (Ammiano) through the legislature. That afternoon, Assembly Labor Committee will vote on the bill to extend basic labor protections to household workers who care for California’s homes and families.

The gathering will feature giant puppets and domestic workers ripping masks from their faces to shine light onto those who take care of a large majority of households in California. Afterwards, the diverse coalition will pack the Assembly Labor Hearing to display their support for basic and humane working conditions for domestic workers.

AB 241 is the second measure of its kind in the country, covering basic labor protections such as overtime pay and meal and rest breaks for domestic worker providers, family companions, caregivers, and housecleaners.

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