Domestic Workers Rally Against Abuse, For Guaranteed Rights
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Domestic workers rallied for justice Friday outside the Flatiron District home of a couple accused of exploiting their nanny.
Protesters gathered to support Angelica, who was the nanny and housekeeper for Frida Torres Blanco, producer of “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and her husband Marc Weiss. Angelica accused her employers of paying her less than the minimum wage, denying overtime, and physically assaulting her.
Members of Domestic Workers United say more than half of the 200,000 nannies, housekeepers and caregivers in the city work overtime without pay, and a third of them experience abuse.
"Because I think it’s time that something be done about domestic work and the domestic work industry. It’s one of the industries that is the least protected and they do the most important work here in New York City," said Priscilla Gonzalez of Domestic Workers United.
"We’ve seen that there is a lot of abuse and exploitation in the industry, and one of the reasons for that is because domestic work isn't valued as real work, and also because there aren't any labor protections on the books," said advocate Marissa Franco.
The group is pushing for a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, which would guarantee paid holidays, vacations, sick days, increased minimum wage, and paid overtime.
Advocates will meet with state legislators on April 15 to try to gain support before the bill is voted on.