California is Closer to a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

From left Edong Pichay (PAWIS), Jamie Chen and Rabbi Aron (ICWJ), Sen. Alquist’s intern and Carol Ong, District Representative for Sen. Elaine Alquist.

We will soon know whether the estimated 200,000 California housekeepers, nannies, and caregivers will finally be able to put their super human powers to rest and become regular humans who take breaks, eat meals and get some sleep.

On August 15th the California Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether California has the funds to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, AB889. This bill would provide domestic workers – excluded from many labor laws - with basic protections most US workers take for granted. Regardless of immigration status, they would be ensured minimum wage along with overtime pay, sick leave, breaks and vacation time including other rights. California would be the second state in the country to enact a law protecting domestic workers, after New York.

As part of a two-day statewide action on August 10th and 11th to promote the bill, local community advocates met with the office of State Senator Elaine Alquist in San Jose to urge her to support the bill. Senator Alquist sits on the appropriations committee and Carol Ong, her district representative heard the constituents concerns.

Helping to lead the effort locally was Annie Sayo, a member of Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants (PAWIS) and the Regional Coordinator of the National Alliance for Filipnio Concerns of Northern California. About 12 people were part of the visit representing area organizations that included PAWIS, the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, the Interfaith Committee for Workers Justice (ICWJ), Unite Here Local 19, Pagkabata, Anakbayan Silicon Valley, and The Peoples’ Association of Workers & Immigrants

During the 30 minute visit, a local domestic worker, wishing to remain anonymous gave a grim picture of what his work was like caring for an elderly man and the abuse that he endures daily, said Sayo. One day while tying his employer’s shoe, the employer patted him on the head saying, “Good dog.” He also related that because he is continuously sleep deprived, working 24 hours without breaks he became feverish one day and could not work. While he was sick, his employer withheld his paycheck and did not pay him until he got better.

Members of the coalition also timed their meeting with Alquist’s office to coincide with the release of the new movie, "The Help," a story based on the book by Kathryn Stockett, which includes two black maids in 1960's Mississippi as central characters.

Volunteers passed out AB889 flyers outside downtown San Jose’s Camera 12 movie theater to draw attention to the relationship of domestic workers from then and domestic workers today. “Domestic work is deeply rooted in slavery because it was instituted right after the end of slavery.” Most people who stopped to talk were shocked to hear that domestic workers had nearly no rights as workers.

Since there was no clear answer on what the Senator was going to do come Monday, and she still had questions about how exactly the law would be implemented, the coalition will wait for the outcome of Monday’s meeting and decide the next steps in getting one of California’s most vulnerable group of workers protections long overdue.