Nannies, house cleaners, and other domestic workers have been excluded from far too many labor standards for far too long. And there hasn’t been a way for them to have a voice and raise standards in their industry.
Now workers are about to change all that by coming together in the Seattle Domestic Workers Alliance. On Thursday, they kicked off a new campaign for a domestic workers’ bill of rights which would protect their rights at work, guarantee written contracts, and establish a city commission which includes domestic workers and has the power to set legally-binding industry standards.
Workers signed their names to the bill of rights after speaking out, sharing their stories, and calling for change. Seattle City Councilmembers Lorena Gonzalez, Lisa Herbold, and Teresa Mosqueda signed on in support too, as did a representative of the mayor’s office and other supporters. Members of Casa Latina and the National Domestic Workers Alliance offered their support as well.
Now we want your John Hancock! Whether you work as domestic worker, employ a domestic worker, or just support workers’ rights, click here to read the full Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and add your signature.
Winning a domestic workers bill of rights in Seattle would be a gigantic breakthrough that would raise up pay, benefits, and working conditions for thousands and thousands of workers, and help establish new ways for workers to have power in their jobs.
Winning big breakthroughs like this is what Working Washington is all about. Fast food workers with Working Washington walked out on strike and changed the conversation about living wages. They sparked the movement that won the fight for $15. Baristas with Working Washington spoke out and changed the conversation about unstable & unpredictable work hours. They won Seattle’s landmark secure scheduling law. And now nannies and housecleaners are kicking off a campaign for the next big breakthrough — with your support.