A short rant about a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in NY

So I know this is going to make me sound like a bastard…. but…

I was listening to KGNU (local public radio station) this morning on my way in and Democracy Now! was playing (you can see the video below). Somewhere in the video is a discussion Amy Goodman was having with a former New York nanny. The former nanny is part of an organization that is trying to get a Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights passed in the New York legislature. In theory, I really don’t have a problem with this. But I don’t understand why it’s needed? If you’re working in a legitimate fashion, then it seems as though there are already laws in place to protect you. Like I said, in theory, I don’t have a problem with this.

What did annoy me was the conversation going on between Amy Goodman and the former nanny. The former nanny was talking about how she was made to do all sorts of dehumanizing activities… For example, she had to put eyedrops into a dog’s eye. In all fairness, she did have to wake up in the middle of the night to do it, but still. People do this stuff all the time, and she’s getting paid to do it. She was also FORCED to walk the dog and a kid at the same time… really?? She knows of other nannies who are FORCED to work 50 hour weeks while getting paid very little. If only they had some choice to do something else.

Now I know that there are abuses that happen to domestic workers and they can be treated like crap at times. On a human level, that’s wrong. No one should have to be put up with being abused. But there are people who put up with crap at their jobs all the times. Bosses wanting them to work longer? Check. Bosses not wanting to pay you much money? Check. You’ve got the power, go and quit your job and find another one. If you’re in the country illegally and don’t feel comfortable doing that, I don’t really know what to tell you.

We have a set of rules and laws in the country that protect the people. If you want to change the immigration laws so that illegal immigrants can work and have full protection as normal workers, then go ahead and try. But to try and pass a bill of rights that protects only domestic workers seems off to me. Like I said, I feel like this may make me sound a bit heartless, but I just see this as the wrong way to go about doing things. Plus, Amy Goodman just sounds so righteous sometimes it kind of sickens me.

On a plus side, I really do love how accessible and information rich the KGNU, NPR, Democracy Now! websites are, thanks guys!

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