In 2010 New York State passed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, the first law in the nation giving domestic workers legal rights in their workplace – our homes. But who does the law count as a domestic worker? What rights do they now have? And how will they find out about them?
CUP, Domestic Workers United (DWU), and artist Damon Locks worked together to create this issue of Making Policy Public. The goal was to create a portable tool that could be distributed to this decentralized workforce and help them to know their rights so they can claim them. In addition to breaking down employees’ rights (including those of undocumented immigrants), the poster provides guidance for the many employers who want to provide a supportive work environment, but aren’t sure where to find information on these issues. To reach the many domestic workers who speak English as a second language, the fold-out poster explains the law in five languages commonly spoken by DWU’s membership – English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Nepali, and Tagalog.
Domestic Workers United is spreading knowledge of the rights of domestic workers by distributing the MPP through their network of sister organizations, giving them to DWU members, and handing them out in public places to domestic workers and their employers.
Get your own copy of the poster here.