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In this bulletin, there are two specific calls for solidarity action from Jamaica and the US. Please take the time to support our sisters.
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Congratulations!
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Charles Kinsey is a caregiver who works at a group home in Miami. On Monday, he was shot by police. It comes as no surprise, Charles is Black. Charles was caring for a young autistic man. When the toy truck the young man was carrying was mistaken for a gun, they were surrounded by police. Even in the midst of this crisis, Charles prioritized his caregiving duties. The video of the event is clear. Charles is lying on the ground, with his hands in the air, explaining the situation to the officers. A police officer shot him in the leg with an assault rifle.
We are in the midst of a deep and urgent crisis, coming to terms with a racist history and a present reality of violence against Black people. In 2016, more than 560 people have been killed by police, and specifically 123 black people killed in the first half of this year. The toll continues to rise at such an alarming rate that we must ask ourselves: how many more Black mothers have to bury their children? How many more Black families have to mourn their loved ones lost to police violence?
Show your support for Charles and for the fight against anti-black racism in the USA and demand a full investigation — and full accountability — for the police officer who shot him. Sign our petition to North Miami Mayor Smith Joseph, and urge him to make sure the police department is held accountable for this tragic event.
It is a tragic and scary time for black people inside the United States, including domestic workers of African descent. IDWF invites affiliates around the world to send messages of solidarity through social media. Use the hashtags #dwdignity and #blacklivesmatter and @IDWFed. Post a photo on facebook saying "Domestic Workers from [your country] in solidarity with black domestic workers in the US #blacklivesmatter."
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In Latin America, the campaign My Fair Home took off with great success in Mexico and Argentina who joined their voices to the movement of domestic workers globally.
In Mexico the Collective of Employers "Home Fair Home" formed in 2013 and representing more than 70 members joins the campaign to promote the rights of domestic workers together with the Union of Domestic Workers in Mexico (SINACTRAHO) and the Centro de Apoyo y Capacitación para Empleadas del hogar (CACEH).
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In Argentina, the Unión Personal Auxiliar de Casas Particulares (UPACP) took advantage during the second year of tripartite discussions to launch the campaign. During the meetings, issues on wages, domestic work, migration and greater opportunity for the sector were discussed.
One month after launching the campaign, UPACP continues to sign employers in the province of Santa Fe, the Consulates of Paraguay and Bolivia, Employers' Association Sacra, Unions in Santa Fe, Rosario, the Secretary of Labour Relations, ILO and will continue with the National Ministry of Labour (and the campaign just started).
UPACP also just launched the mobile application "Migration and Domestic Work". This is an interactive resource designed specifically for migrant domestic workers in Argentina, but is also relevant to any domestic worker who speaks Spanish. The application provides simple and accessible information on rights and legal protections, as well as a network of support and contacts available locally for domestic workers. Since Argentina has adopted Convention 189, this application shows how the protections of the Convention are reflected in national legislation.
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In Ghana, the Domestic Service Workers Union (DSWU) held a workshop for 43 domestic workers in the Eastern Region with the objectives to introduce DSWU in the Eastern Region, create awareness on ILO C189, and develop plan of action for the Eastern Region.
At the end of the workshop, 35 new workers signs up as members and an eight-member interim executive was put in place. Participants were very excited to have been introduced to the union and the ILO C189 and as part of the suggested solutions to their challenges, they called for the ratification of the convention.
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National Trade Union Centres in four Asian countries have taken the lead to promote My Fair Home Campaign. They are SENTRO in the Philippines, KSPI in Indonesia, HKCTU in Hong Kong, as well as Gefont and NTUC in Nepal.
In Hong Kong, HKCTU and FADWU launched the My Fair Home Campaign, six employers spoke out to pledge My Fair Home (Click for more).
And in Indonesia, KSPI, a national trade union centre, started a mapping among its members to know who are employers of domestic workers.
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In the Philippines, UNITED organized a discussion meeting with employers who pledged at the end of the discussion to ensure domestic workers rights.
Click for more and a video.
SENTRO invited UNITED to its executive committee meeting to introduce My Fair Home Campaign. SENTRO, national trade union centre in the Philippines, adopted a resolution that it will inform its members to notify SENTRO if they are employers of domestic workers.
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EFFAT (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions) is joining the IDWF “My Fair Home” campaign and calls upon trade union staff and members who employ domestic workers at their home to sign the the pledge. See the website EFFAT has set up here.
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Small grant opportunity: If you are a non-profit based in the U.S. or an NGO outside the US and need support in fighting injustices, apply to the Woozy Moo - A Fight for a Better World Grant.
- Grant Size: up to $5,000 USD
Eligibility/Requirements:
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