Care in Action, previously known as Domestic Workers Legacy Fund, is a labor-union-aligned left-of-center activist group that advocates for increased government regulations on the employment and pay of domestic worker. ¹

Background

Care in Action, previously known as the Domestic Workers Legacy Fund, was founded in 2014. ¹ The name change came in 2018. ¹ It is a left-leaning organization that advocates for public policies and government programs to regulate the employment and pay of nannies, housekeepers, caregivers for the elderly, and other domestic workers. The group says it seeks to advance the socio-economic wellbeing of domestic workers. ²

Advocacy

One of the bigger legislative achievements for Care in Action was pushing the passage of a taxpayer-funded program to subsidize needs of long-term care workers called the Hawaii Kupuna Caregivers Program through the Hawaii state legislature. ²

Though its stated mission is on domestic workers, Care in Action has opposed a southern border wall and opposed liability protections for gun manufacturers. The group has also strongly supported LGBT and abortion rights. The group also backs efforts to make the minimum wage $15 per hour. ³

The organization had joined with other groups on the left to oppose President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominees. ⁴

In early 2017, the Domestic Workers Legacy Fund teamed with other progressive groups, Color of Change, MoveOn, and Demos Action to form the “Fightback Table” to oppose the Trump administration’s agenda. The groups convened other civil rights, environmental, immigrant rights and other left-leaning groups as well. ⁵

In June 2023, Politico reporter Eleanor Mueller reported that Care in Action had announced a “seven-figure campaign” ⁶ that would promote certain care-related policy topics before the 2024 Presidential Election such as, “paid leave, child care, [and] home care.”⁶ According to Care in Action executive director Hillary Holly, the purpose of the ad campaign was to “upend the narrative that the care crisis is a women’s issue…It’s a societal issue straining individuals, families, and communities in every corner of this country — including those who hold the power to make a difference.” ⁶

1. Care in Action. Cause IQ. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/domestic-workers-legacy-fund,464605470/
2. “Landmark Legislation Transforms Long-term Healthcare in Hawaii” Voqal. September 22, 2017. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://voqal.org/landmark-legislation-transforms-long-term-healthcare-hawaii/
3. Viturro, Mariana. “The RNC is Over, But Domestic Workers are Just Getting Started.” The Action Network. July 22, 2016. Accessed December 5, 2020. http://emailfromvariouslists.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-rnc-is-over-but-domestic-workers.html
4. Press Release. “Groups To Democratic Senators Regarding Gorsuch: ‘We Need You To Do Better.’” NARAL-Pro Choice America. March 6, 2017. Accessed December 5, 2020 https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/2017/03/06/groups-democratic-senators-regarding-gorsuch-need-better/
5. Abramsky, Sash. “Is Nonviolence – or Fighting Back – the Answer to Far Right Thuggery?” The Nation. October 4, 2017. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/is-nonviolence-or-fighting-back-the-answer-to-far-right-thuggery/
6. Niedzwiadek, Nick and Eleanor Mueller. “Supreme Court strike damage ruling throws curveball at NLRB.” Politico, June 5, 2023. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-shift/2023/06/05/supreme-court-strike-damage-ruling-throws-curveball-at-nlrb-00100149