Slaves No More : Making Global Labor Standards for Domestic Workers. Eileen Boris and Jennifer Fish

Transcription

1 Slaves No More : Making Global Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Eileen Boris and Jennifer Fish

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3 It is our work in households that enables others to go out and be economically active it is us who take care of your precious children and your sick and elderly; we cook your food to keep you healthy and we look after your property when you are away.

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5 Arena of Conflict Between Feminists Equal vs. Special Treatment ILO vs. UN Committee on the Status of Women

6 Florence Hancock: British Labor Delegate and Domestic Worker Expert

7 Women Experts

8 No Convention for Domestic Work while standards for domestic workers is a matter of world wide concern because of dwindling supply everywhere, it is not a matter suitable for the binding provisions of a Convention, but a recommendation was in order, 1952 Frieda Miller arguing for an agenda item the most appropriate experts would be mothers with larger families rather than theorists with preconceived ideas as to how the intimate affairs of the family should be organized. -- Sir John Forbes Watson, British employer delegate, 1950 Where domestic workers were part of the family, it was difficult to see how there could be a collective agreement between a family and its domestic workers, Fernando Yllanes Ramos, Mexican Employer s Association, 1951

9 Convention 177 on Home Work, 1996

10 The Respect and Rights Network is guided by a Steering Committee of domestic/household workers organisations from all world regions is part of the IUF global union federation which is providing an organisational base and is supported by - the Global Unions: especially the public sector workers PSI, and the global union confederation ITUC - WIEGO: Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising

11 We are organising ourselves for a better future, and we want your support. USA Hong Kong Switzerland Thailand

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13 The International Domestic Workers Network

14 Global Organizing Strategies WIEGO IUF

15 Activist Strategies in Global Governance

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17 Transforming Spaces

18 Emotional Appeals We want to reach the hearts of employers.

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20 Visual Rhetoric & Song

21 Strengthening an Activist Global Network Migrant workers, anti-slavery, child labor rights, women s rights, girl child, Human Rights Watch, faith based organizations, global unions, informal economy

22 Power Relations: Speaking for domestic workers

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24 What made a difference in getting to C189?

25 Emotional appeal from the household to the UN

26 Building Allies and Alliances

27 Institutional Climate Decent Work & Fair Globalization

28 Professional Advocates and State Feminists

29 Organizational Capacity Building & Training

30 This is part of a much longer battle. Ratification: Uruguay Mauritius Philippines Nicaragua Brazil South Africa

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32 Fighting for Domestic Worker Rights around the Globe Shirley Pryce President Jamaican Domestic Workers Union

33 The situation of domestic workers in Jamaica Violations across the global context Migration Low wages Lack of education Harassment Abuse

34 The Jamaica Household Workers UNION!!!

35 Union Model: Education, Advocacy, Gender Mobilization Collective bargaining Empower domestic workers and ensure fair and just working conditions and wages; Provide training opportunities and education seminars for both domestic workers and employers; Provide advocacy services, lobby for laws and provisions to better protect domestic workers; Provide ethical job opportunities for domestic workers; and to Educate and sensitize the public on the value of domestic work Work with gender organizations

36 Good practices Skills for life curriculum Telephonic labor education Gender sensitive services Research/data collection Working directly with employers Partnering with government 7 chapters of a national union

37 Continued Challenges We need stronger links with other domestic workers groups in the Caribbean. Presently we are not staffed, and the voluntary nature of the organization limits our scope. Like other domestic workers around the world, our members have very little time off to devote to our work. We have limited funds and resources both human and financial.

38 From national to global: the international domestic workers movement

39 Jamaica in Geneva

40 Convention 189