Earlier today, New York Gov. David Paterson signed the first law ever in the United States to give domestic workers the same protections that most other workers have enjoyed for decades. The enactment of the New York Domestic Workers Bill of Rights means that the over 200,000 nannies, in-home caregivers, housekeepers, and other domestic laborers throughout New York State will now finally be guaranteed an eight-hour work day, overtime pay, one day of rest each week, paid vacation days, protection against workplace sexual harassment and racial discrimination, and temporary disability benefits.
By Rahul Saksena, New York Civil Liberties Union at 1:57pm
On Tuesday night, I watched from the gallery of the New York State Senate as history was made: for the first time ever, the Senate passed a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. When the Senate clerk read the final vote count of 33-28, the group of domestic workers and advocates with whom I sat erupted into a thunderous applause in the usually soundless Senate chamber. It was a heartwarming moment that ended two hours of intense debate over the bill and paved the way for New York to be the first state in the nation to enact basic labor standards for domestic workers.
On Tuesday night, I watched from the gallery of the New York State Senate as history was made: for the first time ever,