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USA: Domestic workers push DC for greater protections

USA: Domestic workers push DC for greater protections

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by IDWFED published Jul 23, 2013 12:00 AM
The National Domestic Workers Alliance rallied at the Department of Labor in Washington Tuesday pushing for implementation of proposed new rules that give domestic workers labor law protections like minimum wage and overtime pay.
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Jul 23, 2013 (Universal / UTC0)
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By Doug Cunningham

Read the original article in full: Domestic workers push DC for greater protections | Labor Radio

The National Domestic Workers Alliance rallied at the Department of Labor in Washington Tuesday pushing for implementation of proposed new rules that give domestic workers labor law protections like minimum wage and overtime pay.


Photo: NDWA/FACEBOOK

Lisa Thomas is a Chicago domestic home care worker.

"Sometimes I work 24 hour shifts. Sometimes I leave in the dark and come back in the dark and I only get paid for 8 hours."

Thomas says in addition to low pay, long hours and no rights to basic labor law protections home care workers also have to put up with abuse and dangerous situations. In her case that was a heavy drinking abusive relative of the woman she was there to care for.

"And all day long he calls me the n-word. So he chased me out with a butcher knife, threatenin’ to cut my throat. I ran from there, I left my bags, I left my shoes, I left everything, fearing for my life. It hurts me that I can’t be there for her. But I need the protection, we need the protection. We deserve the protections."

Thomas says through it all she’s inspired and encouraged by low-wage workers standing up and organizing for better conditions nationwide.

"Unity is a beautiful thing. And one thing that I love about us, we’re not lookin’ at color, creed or race. We’re comin’ together, standing for one cause."

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