Domestic workers demand: 'Down with exploitation!'

A vivacious multinational rally of several hundred people gathered June 9 at a New York University campus park to protest the racist oppression of domestic workers who led this action on a rare day off from housekeeping, childcare and elderly care jobs.

June 9 protest. WW photo: Anne Pruden

They work without benefit of a living wage, medical care, overtime or sick time and many suffer abuse from prejudiced bosses. Under the call “We Built This City,” domestic workers formed “DWU”—Domestic Workers United—to fight for basic labor rights, as well as respect, recognition and reparations.

DWU members—mostly women from the Caribbean, South America, Asia and Africa—loudly chanted their demands, adding a variety of displays of cultures. These members represented Unity Housecleaners, Kalayaan/Women Workers Project of CAAAV, Andolan Organizing South Asian Workers, Damayan Migrant Workers Assoc. and Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees.

As they marched to City Hall, these demands attracted much attention from shoppers who heard cries of “Free domestic workers! Down with slavery! Down with exploitation! Down with racism! Down with sexism! Up with the workers! Up with immigrant rights!”

Many blocks later, from a sidewalk beside City Hall, several domestic workers testified about how difficult and dangerous their work can be. They demanded passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (A628B, S5325).

As in their chants, speakers connected their plight to that of slaves. So the next stop in this long working-class march was to the African Burial Ground. After an emotional request by DWU leaders for a moment of silence at this burial ground, a speaker from the Transit Workers Union, who also represented the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, followed.

Haitian musicians performed there soon after, and speakers in several languages addressed the marchers.

For the next and ending march to a park near the government’s immigration offices, demonstrators connected to a long chain to show the likeness to slavery that domestic workers face daily. Finally, the chain was thrown to the ground by all and the DWU led an inspirational song about their struggle ending in victory.

The DWU action was sponsored by the New York Domestic Workers Justice Coalition, New York Jobs With Justice and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.