Former domestic worker fights for labor rights



Angela Alvarez - a former domestic worker who now a lead organizer for the domestic workers movement at IDEPSCA

Angela Alvarez  is a former domestic worker who is now a lead organizer for the domestic workers movement at IDEPSCA | Sinduja Rangarajan

As a former live-in housekeeper, Angela Alvarez quietly worked 15- to 18-hour days. She ate her employer’s throwaway food. She stayed up late after parties to clean up the mess.

It was Alvarez’s first job in the United States and she thought the long hours were normal.

Once, Alvarez took a day off for being sick and her employer penalized her by paying 25 percent less for the entire week. Alvarez quit her job.

That was injustice, Alvarez said. “They never gave me money for taking care of their grandson; they never gave me money for cleaning their daughter’s house.” [Read more…]

Domestic workers celebrate step toward labor protection



Listen to an audio story from Annenberg Radio News

Domestic workers rally

Demonstrating in favor of the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in Downtown Los Angeles. (Photo by Fiona Wang)

The California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights was passed by the Assembly’s Labor Committee on Wednesday. On Thursday, workers and supporters gathered in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate.

The bill, AB 241, would give baisc labor protections to people like house cleaners and caregivers.

It seeks six provisions: overtime pay, meal breaks, workers compensation, uninterrupted sleep, use of kitchen and paid days off.

Supporters launched a public campaign in early March. And they have been out in the streets every week since then. [Read more…]