It's an unequal situation and many women are afraid to speak for their rights. But we try to make that possible for women to stand up for their rights. They are drafting a contract and getting women involved in the contract discussions. It's an attempt to change the culture around this work, to put employers on notice that these women workers are getting organized. When we spoke, the organizers and workers were getting ready to march in New York City's Philippine Independence Day Parade.
Many domestic workers are Filipina.
Because of the bad economy it pays more to go abroad than to stay at home. Educated people have to leave their families and country to support their children. It creates the right environment for domestic workers to know their rights. But we want to network with other communities and labor as well. Some in the contingent were in Manhattan for the first time.