In The Media | DataCenter

Domestic Workers’ Corner: Research Fellow Gives Unique Insight of Domestic Workers Making Change with Their Data!

On 06.28.11, In Domestic Workers, In the Media, By DataCenter

by Anne Ryan|Communications Associate

Christina Fletes, Research Fellow at DataCenter, is leading the National Domestic Worker Survey that began last year. Christina, the daughter of a domestic worker, sat down with DataCenter to give us an update on the project and how it’s going.

DataCenter: What stage is DataCenter’s Domestic Worker Project at right now?

Christina Fletes: Currently, we are wrapping up the surveyor trainings that must happen in each of the 14 cities participating in the survey. And some of our organizations have already started fielding the survey.

DC: What does fielding mean?

CF: Fielding is when we’re out in the field conducting the survey. We have domestic workers themselves going out and finding other domestic workers to take the survey.

DC: How are they going to find other domestic workers?

CF: Aside from going into their own neighborhoods and talking to their own friends, some domestic workers have participated in outreach strategy sessions. In these sessions they decided to look at bus routes, train routes, parks and book stores where they might find nannies, community centers, churches, ESL classes and putting up fliers.

DC: Recently you’ve been traveling to cities across the U.S. training domestic workers to do the survey. Can you tell me about your experiences with that?

CF: It’s been great! I’ve gone to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and San Diego. In the coming weeks I’ll be in San Jose and Denver. It has been so beautiful to have many different languages at the trainings. [*Note: The survey will be shared in 14 languages total!] For example, in Los Angeles, we had Boots from the Pilipino Worker Center. The entire training was led in Spanish, which she did not speak. But as I translated to English for her, I could tell that she knew the importance of this work and was very engaged in the entire training. I saw the same thing in San Francisco, where we had five different organizations participate. Translations were happening from Spanish to English to Tagolog, but everyone was still there together and united. The other participants were so impressed by Fawny from Chinese for Affirmative Action, that they all took the time to thank her for her presence even though she participated through a translator the entire time.

I also heard from many of the domestic workers that it was empowering to know that this isn’t just a research project where some stranger talks to them and then they never hear about the it again. They really appreciated the fact that they are doing the research for themselves and will be able to do what they want with the data.

DC: So thanks to the hard work of domestic workers and DataCenter’s research support, a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights passed last year in New York State. What other domestic worker campaigns are gaining momentum around the country?

CF: Well, currently California introduced a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights in February and it has successfully passed the Assembly. It was a huge victory that everyone is really excited about. There are domestic worker organizations from all across the state working on this campaign. DataCenter was happy to support the campaign by providing necessary statistics that were presented at the Labor Committee hearing. We’re hoping that by October we’ll have a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights signed into law. The next step is the Senate. And then after that the Governor should sign it!

DC: What great news! Has there been international attention for domestic worker rights recently?

CF: Yes! On June 16, the International Labor Conference (ILC) passed a convention recognizing domestic work as “work”. (Read more about the ILC’s Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers .) This is the first time that it’s been recognized as work. Domestic work isn’t always seen as real work for many reasons: its history of slavery, its racialized nature, its feminized nature and also the fact that it’s in a private space and not a public space. Usually when we think of work, we see it as something that happens in the public setting. So this was a huge victory and hopefully it can help whatever campaigns come in the future for Domestic Worker rights.

DC: Are there any challenges you’re facing in the project right now?

CF: Yes. The survey project is representative of the domestic worker population in each city (determined by the U.S. Census). That means we’re interviewing workers who are black/African American, Asian, Latino and white. A lot of the domestic worker groups primarily organize Latino workers, and they’re having a really hard time thinking of outreach strategies to white workers. To mitigate these challenges were doing some background research on white workers, and talking to volunteers and advisors who can help us think of outreach strategies. Domestic worker groups in various cities are also coming up with their own solutions. They’re going to community colleges and laundromats with fliers. It’s great to see that while DataCenter is considering solutions, the domestic worker groups themselves have been inspired to find solutions.

DC: One last question, Ms. Fletes: if you had a nickel for every time you’ve said “domestic workers” in the past year, how much money would you have?

CF: Enough so that all Domestic Workers across the globe could be very well paid!

Stayed tuned for monthly updates in our e-newsletter to hear about the progress of this project. You can also find updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

California Assembly Approves Domestic Workers Bill of Rights!

On 06.03.11, In Domestic Workers, In the Media, Program Updates, By DataCenter

DataCenter’s current national survey of Domestic Workers provided important, never-before-determined statistics about domestic workers in California. Real, courageous nannies and maids used this information to argue the necessity of a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights to California Assemblymembers.

Hold on to your hats–we’re on our way to getting basic dignity and protection for domestic workers written into California law!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2011

Assembly approves sensible clear guidelines benefiting domestic workers and employers

SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly approved AB 889 today, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, sponsored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) passed. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval. Co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Allen (D- Sonoma), Cedillo (D- LA), Ma (D- San Francisco), Monning (D- Santa Cruz) and Senator De Léon , the bill seeks to remove the exclusion of domestic workers from all rights provided to all California workers under Wage Order 15. AB 889 sets industry-wide standards. The current exemptions for domestic workers are confusing and leave well-meaning employers vulnerable to liability. The standards will help keep the industry above-ground.

“Today’s vote was a historic step forward for the rights of domestic workers in California. For decades domestic work has been excluded from both state and federal labor laws and worker exploitation in this industry has remained invisible and unmonitored. AB 889 will end that by establishing the same basic protections under the law that many of us take for granted,” said Ammiano.

“This legislation helps us to bring a critical workforce out of the shadows and into the light of day. Domestic workers must be assured the rights and protections that all California workers deserve,” said V. Manuel Pérez, chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.

The Assembly vote follows last year’s successful passage of a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in New York. Domestic workers have historically been exempted from laws governing the rights afforded to other workers -decent wages, a safe and healthy workplace health, workers compensation and other labor protections. Domestic workers are among the most isolated and vulnerable workforce in the state. The unique nature of their work requires protections to prevent abuse and mistreatment from occurring behind closed doors, out of the public eye. This bill provides domestic workers with industry-specific protections to use kitchen facilities and cook their own food, and creates standards for sleep, sick days, living wage increases, and paid vacations.

“Pues esa victoria significa que se vamos poco poco en el camino de luchando para ganar estos derechos que no han sido reconocido en este trabajo digno,” said Maria Reyes of Mujeres Unidas y Activas. “This victory signifies that we’re moving step by step on the path to victory to win rights that have never been recognized in this dignified work.”

“The Bill of Rights creates helpful guidelines for employers of domestic workers. Employers have a vested self-interest in this campaign- by working to support the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, we are investing in building communication and trust with workers who support some of the most intimate parts of our lives, providing home care to people with disabilities and elders, or caring for our children and our homes.” Jessica Lehman, employer of a personal attendant in her home and a member of Hand in Hand: Domestic Employer Association.

Quintin Mecke

Communications Director

Office of Assemblymember Tom Ammiano

455 Golden Gate Avenue, #14300

San Francisco, CA 94102

Email: quintin.mecke@asm.ca.gov

Phone: 415.557.3013

Fax: 415.557.3015

Website: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13/

New York Passes First Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

On 11.29.10, In Events, In the Media, Movement Research, By DataCenter

On August 31, 2010, New York domestic workers celebrated a groundbreaking victory: the passage of the historic Domestic Workers’ (change to Workers) Bill of Rights in the entire country. It requires that privately employed domestic workers receive holiday, sick, vacation and overtime wages, regardless of an employee’s immigration status. Similar measures are being considered in California and Colorado.

“This is the first legislation in the United States to give basic rights and protections to domestic workers and will cover New York’s 200,000 domestic workers, including nannies, elderly caregivers and housekeepers. The new law requires that private employers provide overtime pay for domestic workers, one day off a week, three days paid leave annually after one year and inclusion in disability benefits laws regardless of immigration status. Similar measures are being considered in California and Colorado.

This victory demonstrates the crucial role that research plays in organizing, at the grassroots level, for broad policy change. In 2004, the Domestic Workers United in partnership with DataCenter published Home is Where the Work Is: Inside New York’s Domestic Work Industry. This seminal study helped pave the way for the bill’s passage and continues to be one of the most authoritative sources of data on this largely invisible and vulnerable workforce. The study also showed how domestic workers can use their own experiential data and be recognized as genuine policymaking experts, heralding a change in the domestic industry as a whole.

Stories, Culture, & Social Change

On 09.23.10, In About Us, In the Media, By DataCenter

August 31, 2010 – Opening Remarks to CompassPoint Nonprofit Day
By Miho Kim, Executive Director, DataCenter

When I first learned about storytelling being the theme for this year’s Non Profit Day, I was excited. And then, this question crossed my mind. “Will I be expected to share my own story in front of all these people I don’t even know, in a professional setting, at a conference, of all places?!” And then I didn’t like the theme so much any more.

I tell my stories all the time. In fact, I consider myself pretty proficient in telling stories and in listening, and being the holder of stories shared by elders and others. But, that’s not something I don’t do much in my professional capacity or in professional spaces. I was intentionally not bringing that powerful tool called storytelling actively into my professional spaces.
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Tagged with: compasspoint • Nonprofit day 2010 • opening remarks • storytelling

Check, Please!

On 09.20.10, In In the Media, Movement Research, Publications, By DataCenter

The Chinese Progressive Association(CPA), with support from the DataCenter, released the groundbreaking report that documents the working and health conditions of San Francisco Chinatown’s restaurant workers. This report, based on surveys of 433 restaurant workers interviewed by their peers and observational data on 106 restaurants, found a prevalence of low-road industry practices such as wage violations, lack of benefits, poor working conditions, and stressful and hazardous workplaces. These conditions leave workers insecure in their jobs and vulnerable to injury and illness, while negatively affecting consumers, businesses, and the community. The problems in Chinatown reflect a national epidemic of wage theft and lowered labor standards. The report concludes with a series of recommendations to address working conditions for restaurant workers as well as all low wage workers.
» Download the full report (pdf)
» Download the executive summary (pdf)
» Download reports in Chinese, Spanish, or English (pdf)

In The Media: Over 160 people and at least a dozen media outlets attended the press release. Here are some links to newspaper and local television coverage:
SF Chronicle – SF Appeal – The Bay Citizen – Channel 7 – Channel 2

Tagged with: check • chinatown • chinese progressive association • please! • San Francisco restaurant workers • working conditions

Editorial: Domestic Workers’ Rights

On 06.08.10, In In the Media, Program Updates, By DataCenter

from 6 June 2010, New York Times

New York State has the chance to lead the nation in extending basic workplace protections to domestic workers — the nannies, housekeepers and caregivers for the elderly who are as essential to the economy as they are overlooked and unprotected.

The State Senate has just passed a domestic workers’ bill of rights, with an array of guarantees that most workers take for granted, like paid holidays, sick days, vacation days and the right to overtime pay and collective bargaining.
Read the full article

BREAKING NEWS: Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Passed in NY Senate

On 06.03.10, In In the Media, Program Updates, By DataCenter

In the News:
Victoria laboral para trabajadores domésticos – Catalina Jaramillo, El Diario NY
For Nannies, Hope for Workplace Protection - Russ Buettner, The New York Times
NY Lawmakers Approve Domestic Worker Rights – Michael Virtanen, The Associated Press

Congratulations to Domestic Workers United, for the passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in the NY State Legislature! On June 1st, the NY State Legislature passed a bill that provides collective bargaining rights and labor protection for domestic workers. If Gov. Patterson signs the bill into law, it will be the first of its kind in the country. (more…)

Tagged with: associated press • bill of rights • domestic workers • new york • new york times • senate

Collective leadership in an organizational context

On 05.10.10, In About Us, In the Media, By DataCenter

by Miho Kim

This article first appeared in Leadership Learning Community’s Blog about the GEO 2010 National Conference: Insights into Collective Leadership.

When it comes to the topic of Shared Leadership, DataCenter has typically responded to small- to mid-size non-profit organizations eager to learn about our experiences while trying to promote a sustainable organizational culture of collaboration over competition, dialog over debate, and power-with over power-over. In most cases, callers had observed a fair amount of unhealthy, challenging power dynamics play out in the organization, and feel the urgency to ‘really do something about it this time.’

In the case of DataCenter, it took literally the hemorrhaging of our organizational leadership, from the Co-Directors up through the Board of Directors in its entirety, to incentivize a rather radical structural shift to a Shared Leadership Model. This organizational ‘rupturing’ in a way cracked open the space to take what was always a highly regarded “value” at the DataCenter into an actual “structure.”
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Tagged with: shared leadership