Domestic Workers United

From Social Justice Wiki

�This is not an issue of politics, this is an issue of humanity."

Over 600,000 people in the New York area are domestic workers suffering under racist, sexist and anti-immigrant structures that prevent them from receiving respect and fair compensation for their labor. Domestic Workers United fights on behalf of thousands of people to achieve rights through political action, community activism and educating workers about their rights.

In April 2000, Domestic Workers United was first founded by a handful of members in a Fort Greene, Brooklyn bookstore. DWU was formed out of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, which acts to mobilize against institutional obstacles facing the Asian-American community, such as worker exploitation, police brutality, poverty and unlawful threats of deportation. CAAAV organizers realized that a significant part of their community was involved in domestic work, and so decided to help found Domestic Workers United to specifically address the problem. Since then the organization has grown to over 800 members and enjoys tremendous support from other workers and citizens. In 2002, the organization successfully petitioned for legislation that would hold employment agencies responsible for informing both employers and workers of employee rights. This is just one of their many successes in New York, their most significant being the consciousness raising efforts that Domestic Workers United members promote at every chance, whether at protests or in one-on-one conversations with other workers.

Who Are Domestic Workers United?

History of Domestic Workers United

Links between Race, Gender, Immigration Status and Domestic Work

Progress, Goals and Accomplishments

Media Coverage

Analysis

Upcoming Events and Current Campaigns