Far too many nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers face unfair and unsafe working conditions, sexual harassment, insufficient pay or wage theft, and a lack of respect and recognition for the crucial work they do.

Our successes last month gives us powerful fuel to change that, and we’re going all-out to secure as many new congressional Care Champions as possible while we have this incredible momentum.

So our team has been working tirelessly to plan face-to-face meetings on Capitol Hill, in-district events by domestic workers, and constituent contact across the country. This is a huge lift and we can’t do it alone.

That’s why we’re asking you, Kelli, to join us in this fight. Your donation of $20.00 dollars today will help us continue our work to ensure that all domestic workers receive the respect, recognition, and labor rights they deserve.

As we reflect on this past month, we’re proud of the historic gains made for care workers:

• 50+ White House actions to improve care: the most comprehensive set of executive actions in the history of the United States;
• A first-of-its kind care summit led by workers and leaders across labor sectors; and
• A Presidential Proclamation for Care Workers Recognition Month.

We’re taking today to celebrate, because it’s so important to recharge and refuel. But we’re now more determined than ever to push for better jobs, fair pay, and dignified working conditions for ALL workers.

And we need your help to seize this momentum to make that happen.

Let this International Workers Day renew our dedication to building a society where every worker and every profession is valued and respected.

Together, we can create real change and make a difference in the lives of countless workers.

Thank you for your support.

The post Donate on International Workers Day appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Today, our movement made history!

Because of activists and organizers like you, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the most comprehensive set of executive actions to improve care in the history of the United States!

This historic change marks the all-in commitment we need to make sure care jobs are good jobs and that Americans can access care for generations to come.

To bear witness to this historic announcement, National Domestic Workers Alliance members joined care workers, family caregivers, early educators, people with disabilities, veterans, and aging advocates in the Rose Garden at the White House for the signing of the Executive Order.

SEE MORE ON FACEBOOK

The White House’s order includes more than 50 directives to federal agencies to utilize existing funding to:

• Make childcare and home care more affordable
• Make it easier for caregivers to access federal programs
• Improve access to care for veterans
• Ensure care jobs are good jobs
• Lift up Black, Indigenous, and other women of color who are most affected by the care crisis

The magnitude of these investments cannot be overstated – the Administration is leading us to the once-in-a-generation investments needed to improve the lives of millions, and toward building a more equitable and sustainable care infrastructure in this country.

This historic news comes on a BIG DAY for our movement as we kicked off the inaugural Care Can’t Wait Summit in Washington D.C, and you can watch the livestream of two powerful plenary sessions on the National Domestic Workers Alliance’s Facebook page.

In addition, NDWA, care workers, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Bob Casey, and more participated in Standing with Care Workers: A Town Hall on the Child and Home Care Worker Crisis in America. You can watch livestream of this event direct from Capitol Hill.

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

This moment would not have happened without the leadership of domestic workers in our movement, who have fought for years for this kind of transformative action in a better care future for all of us. And, it would not have happened without the powerful organizing and campaigning of dedicated supporters like you.

We’re so full of gratitude. So proud of the movement that we’ve built and the work that we’ll all continue to do together.

It is our hope that today’s promise is inspiration for our country’s decision makers and leaders to prioritize care in all they do.

The post President Biden announces executive actions for care appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

This is a HUGE victory for our movement! For the first time the national spotlight will shine upon the millions of Black, Latinx, and immigrant women of color who care for our communities, our homes and our families.

This historic proclamation and month of recognition is also a major milestone towards transforming the way this country treats care and caregivers.

Help us celebrate this first ever Care Workers Recognition Month in a BIG way by telling us about a care worker in your life that you think deserves recognition.

They can be a family caregiver, home care worker, nanny, childhood educator, child care worker, and more. Click here to let us know who they are and to share the impact they have had on your life!

Honor a Care Worker

One of the reasons this announcement by the White House is so important is that throughout history and today, care work and domestic workers have been almost entirely invisible.

So, as the highest office in the land elevates care workers with a whole month of recognition, it celebrates these incredible women and opens a pathway to end the injustices that hold them back from receiving the respect they deserve.

Thanks to the White House’s announcement, and with the country paying attention like never before, now is the perfect time to celebrate the caregivers in our own lives.

So make sure you take a moment today to celebrate a caregiver or care worker in your life.

Honor a Care Worker

We’ll be in touch soon with a special announcement and with more ways you can celebrate Care Workers Recognition month throughout April — so stay tuned.

The post April is Care Workers Recognition Month appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

These aren’t harmless misunderstandings: they’re powerful prejudices holding domestic workers back from achieving the dignity, respect and rights they deserve, and we want your help to fight them.

Check out the myths below and join our Care Champions team to receive myth-busting graphics to share on your personal social media. You’ll also get entered to win some NDWA swag for helping us spread the word!

MYTH: Women should do the majority of care work

REALITY: Women shoulder a disproportionate burden of unpaid care and are overrepresented in care jobs because of gender stereotypes and social norms.

The reality is women have their own desires and their own needs, including paid work, which is not an option for many.

What does that look like? Globally, women perform 76.2 percent of total hours of global unpaid care work, more than three times as much as men! For example, during the pandemic women did an additional 512 billion hours of unpaid care work at home.

MYTH: Families alone should be responsible for caring for their family members

REALITY: Families juggle so much and it doesn’t have to be that way.

Expecting all families to be 100% responsible for caring for their family members is not universal, realistic, or equitable.

Government entities across the board have a role to play in making sure families can access the care they need while building a life of joy.

MYTH: Care work isn’t skilled work

REALITY: Care work requires extensive training, knowledge, skill, and a deep commitment.

It requires physical strength, emotional intelligence, and strong interpersonal skills.

Framing care work as unskilled work is a large reason care work is consistently undervalued and underpaid, despite the profound impact it has on families’ lives.

Each one of these myths hold domestic workers back from achieving the dignity, respect and rights they deserve.

Join our Care Champions team to help us fight back: we’ll email you some myth-busting graphics to share on your personal social media! You’ll also get entered to win some NDWA swag for helping us spread the word.

Join Us

The post Busting Myths About Care appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

The need for care is exploding and care work is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy, but also one of the least understood. So, we wanted to break it down for you.

What is care?

Care work is work done in service of others.

Care work can be paid or unpaid labor that is performed everyday by family caregivers, home care workers, nannies, childhood educators, childcare workers, teachers, nurses and more.

Why is care essential?

Caregivers nurture children, allow parents to work throughout the day, and provide crucial assistance to those who are aging and people who are disabled.

Caregivers ensure everyone who needs care — seniors, people with disabilities, and children — can live safely at home.

Care work is, and has always been, essential to the strength of our economy. It is the work that makes all other work possible.

Care Can’t Wait

By 2040, the number of people 65 and older will nearly double, and the number of adults 85 and older will nearly triple.

To meet the rising demand for care, the U.S. will need to fill over 4.4 million home care job openings over the next few years. 

That’s more new jobs than any other occupation in the U.S, but care work isn’t valued the way it should be:  wages are extremely low (home care workers earn an average hourly wage of just $12.12), conditions are often bad, and exploitation is too common. (This is no accident! Find out why domestic work has been systematically devalued.)

What do we need?

We need a care infrastructure that includes comprehensive support and services for caregivers.

That means the policies, resources, and services necessary to help families meet their caregiving needs.

In the U.S. we often associate “infrastructure” with physical infrastructure — such as roads, bridges, and utilities – that families need to get to work and live their lives.

Care infrastructure is the same: without it, our families are unable to work, survive and thrive.

What can we do about it?

Together with our partners Caring Across Generations, we’ve joined the #CareCantWait coalition to advocate for:

• Better pay and benefits for care workers
• #PaidLeaveForAll
• Access to high-quality and affordable childcare and early education
• Programs for aging and disabled people to live at home

How can you get involved?

We have big plans this year, from the local to the state to the national level, to make sure that our care priorities win and that members of congress understand that we need care NOW.

But we can’t do it alone. We’re building the largest care force in history —  including care workers, activists, electeds, and more — and we need supporters like you to join us.

With every petition you sign, every post you share, every call you make, you help get us one step closer to the caring society we all deserve. Sign our pledge to let us know that you’re ready to become a Care Champion TODAY!

Sign the Pledge

America is facing a care crisis where many of us can’t access the care we depend on. That’s why NDWA, together with our partners, is leading the fight to ensure our government makes the investments, passes the policies and gives us the supports we need because #CareCantWait.

The post Why Should You Care About Care? appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Because of this, domestic work remains some of the least protected work in our society; essential workers experiencing unsafe and uncertain conditions and sexual harassment and exploitation are often the rule rather the exception.

The pandemic has shown how essential care is to keeping our society going and how challenging it is for domestic workers to work with dignity and respect. It also made clear that it is beyond time for a national domestic workers bill of rights.

National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

This month, we’re ramping up our campaign to pass a National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights to correct these injustices. If passed, this long overdue legislation would ensure rights and benefits for all domestic workers across the country.

Join the movement: sign the petition in support of a national domestic worker bill of rights.

State and Local Campaigns

The relentless leadership of domestic workers has pushed 10 states and 2 major cities, and the District of Columbia to pass domestic workers bills of rights or protections. Wwe continue to push for bills of rights in more states and cities as well as federal recognition and protection for domestic workers, we want to take a moment to celebrate our victories to date, highlight our current campaigns and thank the domestic worker leaders, elected officials and fearless supporters who’ve gotten us this far:

• As of March 12th, domestic workers in New York are officially included In the New York City’s Human Rights Law! All across the city, domestic workers will be protected and their dignity recognized in their workplace. This is just one part of the NYC Care Campaign to help domestic workers in New York achieve the respect, rights and dignity they deserve. Learn more and get involved.
• With the introduction of a DC Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, domestic workers in the nation’s capital are one step closer to winning historic change. Take a minute today to thank DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman for introducing this bill and for her commitment to ensuring dignity and respect for domestic workers in DC.
• The New Jersey Domestic Workers Bill of Rights would include basic legal rights for New Jersey’s 50,000 domestic workers, many of whom are experiencing wage theft, denial of breaks, and lack of sick leave. Add your name if you’re ready to fight for dignity and respect with New Jersey’s domestic workers — sign the petition today!

The post Fighting for Domestic Worker Rights appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

We join labor and domestic worker advocates across the world in mourning the loss of Myrtle Witbooi, a long-time leader in the domestic worker and labor movement.

Myrtle worked as a domestic worker under apartheid in South Africa. Her experience led her to organize women locally and, eventually, become a long-time leader of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) and the first President of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF). She dedicated 52 years toward fighting against apartheid and for democracy and domestic workers’ rights.

To honor Myrtle’s life and the impact she had on the domestic worker movement, NDWA invites you to join a virtual tribute – Amandla!: In loving memory of Myrtle Witbooi – on Thursday, January 26th at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT.

RSVP here to confirm your participation and receive the Zoom link.

Myrtle leaves a legacy of resilience, benevolence, and strength. Heer lifelong commitment to the domestic worker movement and her leadership have been an inspiration to workers and organizers around the world. She was the heart and soul of the global domestic workers movement, and her legacy will live on forever in the countless domestic worker leaders and organizers who carry forward her fight for justice.

We are mourning a huge loss for our global movement, and are so grateful for her organizing wisdom and mentorship to a generation of domestic worker leaders. Join us on January 26th, together with domestic worker and labor leaders, to celebrate her life and honor her legacy.

RSVP

The post Honoring Myrtle Witbooi appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

“The denial of this sacred right is a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition.”
— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In many states across the country, there is an ongoing effort to make it harder for people of color, low-income and rural voters to cast our ballots. Several laws are taking effect this January that will have a significant impact on elections across the country – whether for voters, state agencies, local election officials, or advocacy groups.

These continued attacks aren’t a surprise: whenever communities pushed to the margins show our collective power, there are many who wish to slow down our hard-won progress.

[addthis tool=”addthis_inline_share_toolbox_4eem_n53j_tmdo_pr2n_mywm” style=”text-align:center;”]

At NDWA, we are proud to partner with our domestic worker leaders to radically reimagine how this country values women and women’s labor and to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are centered in our economy.

Voting is an important lever that we can use to create a future that works for domestic workers, caregivers, women of color, and immigrants. It’s not the only tool at our disposal, but it’s important that we all remember that our votes speak for us and our values.

“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.”
— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our work is only possible because we stand on the shoulders of giants like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s important for us to honor those who paved the way for us, providing us with a blueprint to fight these complex and connected battles. Help us honor Dr. King today by sharing this email with your networks.

SHARE TODAY →

Our work is far from over but make no mistake: this movement is powerful. We’re fighting back and we’ll keep fighting, until our right to vote is protected, our voices are heard and we are finally given the space to live and work with dignity and respect. And we will win thanks to supporters like you.

The post Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Domestic workers, and particularly housecleaners, often have multiple employers. This means they may have to schedule several jobs in a given week in order to make ends meet.

Housing insecurity decreased slightly from the third quarter 2022 to the fourth quarter. Yet more than 40% of domestic worker respondents faced housing insecurity, and nearly 80% experienced food insecurity in the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, 41% of domestic worker respondents said they were unable to pay their monthly rent or mortgage, compared with 42%, on average in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, 14% of respondents said they would not be able to afford food in the following two weeks and 64% were unsure if they would be able to.

NDWA Labs surveys of Spanish-speaking domestic workers shows how the pandemic has amplified the vulnerability of this workforce. Domestic workers continue to face low wages,high levels of joblessness and underemployment and food and housing insecurity.

READ THE REPORT

The post Spanish-speaking domestic workers struggle with underemployment and housing insecurity appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Over 4 years ago, in 2018, domestic workers in the newly formed DC chapter of NDWA began organizing to end the exclusion of domestic workers from DC’s Human Rights Act, the only group of workers to be excluded from this right in DC.

The DC Domestic Workers Bill of Rights passed the DC council unanimously. The bill finally includes domestic workers in DC’s human rights protections, which guaranteed protections against discrimination at work. It also includes domestic workers in DC’s occupational health and safety law. It will create the new right for domestic workers who work in DC to have a written contract with their employers and it will create a domestic worker outreach and education program to give community-based organizations money to help domestic workers know their rights and enforce their rights. This bill is an unprecedented recognition in DC of the value and dignity of the work that domestic workers do. 

Our movement, led by powerful domestic workers and supported by all of you, has been fighting for these basic workplace rights for more than four years. It was long past time to protect and support the workers that take care of us and, with your support, we finally did it.

Help us spread the good news and take a moment and tweet how excited you are about the DC Bill of Rights becoming reality. You can also share share these photos on Facebook and Instagram.

TWEET YOUR EXCITEMENT

Thank you for being with us every step of the way!

The post DC passed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights appeared first on National Domestic Workers Alliance.