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THE JEWISH COMMUNITY STANDS WITH DOMESTIC WORKERSFOUR QUESTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS’ JUSTICEPassover 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. Manydomestic workers are immigrants.

All

domestic workers are strangers in theirworkplaces: the intimate homes of another family. Jewish tradition asks us in 36different ways to create just workplaces for domestic workers.Religious and secular Jews in every generation have been leaders in the struggle forrespect for all forms of work and dignity for workers as union organizers, activists andreligious leaders. We are part of that legacy by working together with DomesticWorkers United toward

Shalom Bayit

-- making our homes just workplaces.JFREJ’s

Shalom Bayit

: Justice for Domestic Workers Campaign is organizing to passthe Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. The Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights addressesthe longstanding, unfair exclusion of domestic workers from labor protections, reflectsthe unique conditions and demands of the industry in which they work, and clarifiesemployers’ obligations. The passage of the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights in NewYork 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 employer’s 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 83aThe 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 UnitedStates. They are often abused, mistreated and work under harsh conditions.They are regularly forced by employers to work six days a week, and receivelittle or no pay for their services. They are also sexually, verbally andphysically assaulted and abused.Many domestic workers come to the United States legally to escape poverty intheir country. The main reason for their employment is to earn money to sendto their families and support their children. Many domestic workers areisolated, exploited and psychologically abused by their employers, thusresulting in the belief they will suffer serious harm if they leave their jobs. Inaddition, many domestic workers fall through the cracks of the U. S.government. Therefore the burden of securing employer compliance becomesthat of the domestic worker. Even if the domestic worker leaves theiremployer, they are not guaranteed time to remain in the United States to seeklegal redress. The problems of domestic workers underline the need forlegislation 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. laborlaw?

- 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’ Billof 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 54bThe Shalom Bayit campaign is working to professionalize the relationship betweenthe domestic worker and the employer. Through clarity, trust and respect, justice isbuilt.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 eachdomestic worker an annual cost of living adjustment, in proportion to theincrease, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the New York Area aspublished by the United States department of labor or its successoragency.

Employer choice for health coverage: Every employer must provideeach domestic worker health benefits, or must supplement her hourlywage rate by an amount no less than the lowest available cost of healthbenefits 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 youremployees?

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice www.jfrej.org 212-647-8966