Domestic Workers and You....

question of persecution (0.00 / 0)

Mae--thanks for covering this historic win for domestic workers who have been fighting for their rights in NYC for the past 10 years, with organizing support of organizations like Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (www.jfrej.org) as well as the financial support of JFSJ. It's a victory for all of us.

 I'm a little concerned with your framing of the employer side of things. Part of JFREJ's work has been to organize the Jewish community, and employers in particular in support of this bill. Employers want, and need this bill as it provides ethical standards in an otherwise unreglated industry. There is a lot of shame and guilt that surrounds employers' lives as many (not all) try to do the right thing, but withought standards, not everyone thinks to provide the basic labor rights afforded other workers. 

 As far as employers being "persecuted" by this law, I think it might be more helpful to think about the persecution of the domestic workers. The physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, financial exploitation--the list is long in the realm of domestic workers' persecution. But employers? Impossible. In an employee/employer relationship, it is the employers who have the power. Not the employee. This bill is hoping to shift that, if only marginallly, but certainly not to the point where employers will be "persecuted" any time soon. Prosecuted? Maybe. But persecuted? Never.

 For a glimpse at how domestic workers are persectued and employers may be *appropriately* prosecuted, check out this article in NY Magazine.

http://nymag.com/news/features/66471/

 Thanks again for covering this historic win for immigrants, women, people of color, the working class, and the Jewish community.

 

 

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by: alexrw @ Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 08:29:30 AM CDT

oops (0.00 / 0)

thanks for your really thoughtful reply! i'm in full agreement with you and i actually meant to write "prosecuted" not "persecuted"! my curiousity being around how many jewish families won't follow these laws and thinking about how jews, like the awesome members of  JFREJ, who are working to hold other jews accountable not only to the law, but to Jewish values. i hope that makes more sense...

eh, sorry.

 

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by: Mae Singerman @ Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 10:14:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

employer accountability (0.00 / 0)

Yes, definitely. Thanks for the clarification.

 The question of how to hold Jewish employers and ALL employers of domestic workers accountable to these new standards is one I think many of us have and have been grappling with for years before the bill even passed. JFREJ will be working hard with DWU, synagogues, and other Jewish orgs to make sure this happens, especially since the bill does not include all  the provisions employers or workers originally wanted. Jewish values reflect that we need a higher standard than even the legislation if we are to have a truly ethical community.

As the child of employers of a domestic worker, I know how much gratitude many employers feel for the work that their employees do. I hope we can translate that gratitude into ethical employment practices. 

This will, of course, be a challenge.

Thanks again for your support on this issue. 

 

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by: alexrw @ Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 10:38:43 AM CDT