THE JEWISH COMMUNITY STANDS WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS

FOUR QUESTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS JUSTICE Passover 2009/5769

You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. - Exodus 22:20

The Torah asks us 36 times in numerous different verses not to oppress the stranger. This injunction is given more often than any other commandment in the Torah. Many domestic workers are immigrants. All domestic workers are strangers in their workplaces: the intimate homes of another family. Jewish tradition asks us in 36 different ways to create just workplaces for domestic workers. Religious and secular Jews in every generation have been leaders in the struggle for respect for all forms of work and dignity for workers as union organizers, activists and religious leaders. We are part of that legacy by working together with Domestic Workers United toward Shalom Bayit-- making our homes just workplaces. JFREJs Shalom Bayit: Justice for Domestic Workers Campaign is organizing to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights addresses the longstanding, unfair exclusion of domestic workers from labor protections, reflects the unique conditions and demands of the industry in which they work, and clarifies employers obligations. The passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in New York State will be a historic win for justice.

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

www.jfrej.org

212-647-8966

1. Why do domestic workers need a bill of rights?

We need [the rule specifying that local custom undermines an employers stipulation that workers begin early and stay late] for the case in which the employer raises the workers' wages. In the case in which he says to them, I raised your wages in order that you would begin work early and stay late they may reply, You raised our wages in order that we would do better work." - Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzia 83a

The justification for the bill (A-1470/S-2311) in the New York State Assembly reads: Domestic workers are among the most oppressed workers in the United States. They are often abused, mistreated and work under harsh conditions. They are regularly forced by employers to work six days a week, and receive little or no pay for their services. They are also sexually, verbally and physically assaulted and abused. Many domestic workers come to the United States legally to escape poverty in their country. The main reason for their employment is to earn money to send to their families and support their children. Many domestic workers are isolated, exploited and psychologically abused by their employers, thus resulting in the belief they will suffer serious harm if they leave their jobs. In addition, many domestic workers fall through the cracks of the U. S. government. Therefore the burden of securing employer compliance becomes that of the domestic worker. Even if the domestic worker leaves their employer, they are not guaranteed time to remain in the United States to seek legal redress. The problems of domestic workers underline the need for legislation to protect the rights of all employees working in homes. Question for the seder table: - Why do you think that domestic workers are not included in the U.S. labor law? - Why do you think labor protections are important?

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

www.jfrej.org

212-647-8966

2. What are some of the protections that the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights will provide?
Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of their own family and does not do so is punished for the transgressions of their family. Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of the people of their community and does not do so is punished for the transgressions of their community. Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of the entire world and does not do so is punished for the transgressions of the entire world. -Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b The Shalom Bayit campaign is working to professionalize the relationship between the domestic worker and the employer. Through clarity, trust and respect, justice is built. The Domestic Workers Bill or Rights offers these provisions: Paid time off Day of rest Termination and severance: Paid based on number of years worked Cost of living wage adjustment: Every employer must provide each domestic worker an annual cost of living adjustment, in proportion to the increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the New York Area as published by the United States department of labor or its successor agency. Employer choice for health coverage: Every employer must provide each domestic worker health benefits, or must supplement her hourly wage rate by an amount no less than the lowest available cost of health benefits described in the insurance law code of New York State. Questions for the seder table: If you are working, what labor protections to you enjoy? If you are an employer, what labor protections do you offer to your employees?

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

www.jfrej.org

212-647-8966

3. What does Passover have to do with domestic workers?

You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay him wages on the same day, before the sun sets, for he is needy and urgently depends on it; else he will cry to the Lord against you and you will incur guilt. - Deuteronomy 24:14-15

As we turn our thoughts to the memory of laboring in a strange land, we also think about those domestic workers, largely immigrants, who help many in our community with the work in our homes: not just cleaning for Pesach, but throughout the year. They, like our ancestors, are laborers working in a foreign land. We recall the poignant question of the kindergartener who asked, What does it mean to be a slave? Is it like being the cleaning lady who doesnt speak English?

Questions for the seder table: Why do you think the kindergartener asked this question? What are some of the similarities and some of the differences between the situations? Are there ways in which we can draw from our own experiences with laboring in strange lands to create justice for immigrant domestic workers? How?
-By Jeffrey Sharlein, Question adapted from A Different Night Haggadah by Noam Zion and David Dishon

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

www.jfrej.org

212-647-8966

4. What can I do to support the domestic workers bill of rights?

It is the spirit of trade unionism that is most important, the service of fellowship, the feeling that the hurt of one is the concern of all and that the work of the individual benefits all.
- Rose Schneiderman, a Polish-born former hat worker who was a U.S. labor leader in the twentieth century.

All of us workers, employers, and all concerned community members have an important role to play in making this Bill pass in New York State!
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Sign the e-petition showing your support for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. If you are in New Yorkjoin us on Thursday, April 23rd for The Jewish Community Stand with Domestic Workers: The Shalom Bayit Public Forum at 7:00 pm at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun located at 257 West 88th Street, New York City.

Question for the seder table: Have you ever worked together with your community to win positive change? For what? What did you do? How did it feel? What did you learn? What does the Passover story have to teach us about working together, standing in solidarity, and making our voices heard?

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

www.jfrej.org

212-647-8966