After one year in the pandemic, California domestic workers continue to work as essential workers on the frontlines of the crisis and are still without health and safety protections. Yesterday, with renewed energy and determination, domestic workers held a virtual press conference and mobilized across the state to kick off our 2021 campaign to win The Health and Safety for All Workers Act (SB 321) to finally end the exclusion of domestic workers from protections granted by the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. Over the course of the day, over 3,000 people liked, commented, or shared the event on Facebook and tuned in to listen to the stories and vision of our member leaders.
You can watch the full launch event here. Please leave a comment or share it on your own FB page!
Domestic workers, community organizers, and policy experts in the field shared their perspectives about the importance of ensuring health and safety protections at the home as a workplace. Christina Ragas, a homecare worker leader of Filipino Advocates for Justice spoke out about why she is organizing to win SB 321, “Domestic workers are being forced to choose between two very important things: our livelihood or our safety. Thousands of domestic workers are not included in Cal/OSHA health and safety protections – that are even more important when there are wildfires and this pandemic. Our health and safety as domestic workers will ensure the health and safety of every home in California. That’s why the bill Health and Safety for All Workers Act (SB321) needs to be passed now!”. Please read our Press Release for more highlights of the event and to learn more about our campaign.
Finally, please sign and share the petition to Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to pass SB 321. Join the campaign!