It’s time to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
Laura lives in Grays Harbor. She was in Olympia today to urge state representatives to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (HB 2355/SB 6053), which would provide a right to minimum wage and written contracts while providing stability for tens of thousands of excluded workers across the state.
Nobody should have to work without the protection of basic labor standards. It’s time to pass this bill. Watch Laura’s full testimony before the WA House Labor Committee.
“Good morning committee members. My name is Laura. I live in Grays Harbor in the 24th District. I’m here to strongly support the bill HB 2355, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. I have been a domestic worker for 10 years. I enjoy my work when at the end of the day my clients are happy to see their houses clean. However, so often our rights are often not respected and people are taking advantage of us.
So a few years ago, I cleaned a house for a lawyer with whom we had a verbal agreement that I will clean their house weekly. But suddenly, they decided to terminate the service without previous notice and without respecting our agreement. This stressed me out a lot, because my job is a source of income that helps me to put food on the table for my family and pay the bills. Especially since it was during the pandemic and it was a very difficult time to find another house to clean or another job.
That’s why I’m here to defend the Bill of Rights for domestic workers so that no one else has to go through the uncertainty that I went through. And this law has already been passed in other states such as Oregon, California, and the city of Seattle. But there are thousands of workers who remain excluded from these basic rights, especially in rural areas. I urge you to commit to supporting this bill and bring it to the full house so this proposal becomes a law and all the workers in Washington have protection against labor injustice. Thank you for your time.”