Oct. 8: Domestic Workers Human Rights Tribunal

Oct. 8, 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Domestic Workers Human Rights Tribunal

Cooper Union Great Hall
7 East 7th Street
(corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue)
(By bus: Take any of the following buses and ask the driver to let you off nearest Astor Place or Cooper Square: the M101 or M102-Third and Lexington Avenues).
(By subway: Take the R or W (BMT Lines) subway to 8th Street, or take the
No. 6 (IRT Lexington Avenue Local) to Astor Place)

free and open to the public - childcare and translation available - lunch provided

Tribunal:
Deborah Baumgarten, Assistant Attorney General
Doudou Diene, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Racial Discrimination
Jaribu Hill, Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights
Lennox Hinds, Professor, Rutgers University
Lenora Lapidus, Women's Rights Project at the ACLU
Ida Le Blanc, Trinidad Women's Union
Mary Beth Maxwell, American Rights at Work
Gay McDougall, Global Rights, U.N. Independent Expert on the Rights of Minorities
Cathi Tactaquin, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Mia White, Ms. Foundation

For generations, domestic workers in the U.S. have lived the legacy of slavery - women of color whose work is isolated, invisible, lacking set hours or clear job responsibilities yet consistently long hours for low wages, while commonly facing discrimination, harassment and unjust firings. Now a growing workforce of immigrant women of color escaping poverty created by U.S.-driven neoliberal policies abroad, domestic workers working within the U.S. borders remain systematically excluded from some of the most basic labor rights such as protection from unjust firing and discrimination. And, after working long hours in their employers homes, they raise and care for their own families.

Come hear the testimonies of the nannies, housekeepers and elderly caregivers whose labor provides the backbone for the NY economy. Support their call for a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in NY State, including a livable wage, notice of termination, severance pay, paid vacation and sick days, health care and protection from discrimination and unjust firing.
Their call is one of many voices in a growing international movement of domestic workers for respect, dignity and justice.

Sponsored by Domestic Workers United and Global Rights
Co-sponsored by Andolan Organizing South Asian Workers, Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Women Workers Project of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, and Unity Housecleaners

Domestic Workers United is an organization nannies, housekeepers and elderly caregivers from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa working to build power, raise the level of respect for domestic work, establish fair labor standards and help build a movement to end exploitation once and for all. DWU works in close partnership with Andolan Organizing South Asian Workers, Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Unity Housecleaners and Women Workers Project of CAAAV to collectively build the domestic workers movement in New York.

For more information, please contact - (718) 220-7391 x 23 or 11