Domestic Workers United (DWU) is a New York-based labor advocacy group for Caribbean, Latina, and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers. The organization is a founding member of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), a union-aligned left-of-center coalition consisting of 60 nonprofit advocates of nationwide labor regulations. DWU head Ai-jen Poo left the organization in 2007 to co-found the NDWA. ¹

DWA reached up to 500 members, mostly consisting of women and immigrants. ²

DWA has likely been defunct since 2015, in which the most recent news story about it was published. ³ No tax returns have been filed since 2014, its website has not been updated since 2013,⁴ and the group’s Facebook page has not been updated since 2012. ⁵

Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

In 2010, Domestic Workers United, operating under the NDWA, worked to support passage of the “Domestic Worker Bill of Rights,” a package of labor regulations, in the New York State legislature. The bill was sponsored by then-Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Manhattan) and Senator Diane Savino (D-Queens). The bill created labor regulations for nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers concerning standardized workdays, work weeks, overtime pay rates, and protection against workplace discrimination and harassment. ⁶

The DWA received support from the New York Domestic Workers Justice Coalition, a coalition of local left-of-center labor advocacy groups, including Adhikaar for Human Rights, Unity Housecleaners, Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, and the Andolan Organizing South Asian Workers. ⁷

1. Hilgers, Lauren. “Out of the Shadows.” New York Times. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/21/magazine/national-domestic-workers-alliance.html.
2. Alexander, Amber. “Nannies are Brooklyn’s bridge between cultures.” BC News Service. Accessed April 9, 2020.

   http://journalism.blog.brooklyn.edu/nannies-are-brooklyns-bridge-between-cultures/.

3. Alexander, Amber. “Nannies are Brooklyn’s bridge between cultures.” BC News Service. Accessed April 9, 2020.

   http://journalism.blog.brooklyn.edu/nannies-are-brooklyns-bridge-between-cultures/.

4. “Domestic Workers United.” Domestic Workers United. Accessed April 9, 2020. http://domesticworkersunited.blogspot.com/.
5. “Domestic Workers United.” Facebook. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/DomesticWorkersUnited/.
6. “State Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.” Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Campaign. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://knowyourrightsny.org/.
7. “More About the Bill.” National Domestic Workers Alliance. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://www.domesticworkers.org/bill-of-rights/new-york.