National Domestic Workers Alliance

National Domestic Workers Alliance. It is a nonprofit organization working to build power, respect, and fair labor standards for the over 2.5 million domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007 at the United States Social Forum in Atlanta, the alliance organizes nannies, housecleaners, and caregivers to achieve protections long excluded from core U.S. labor laws. Through coalition building, policy advocacy, and cultural change work, it has become a leading voice in the modern labor movement and the fight for gender equality.

History and founding

The formation was catalyzed by decades of organizing by groups like Domestic Workers United in New York City and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida, which highlighted the systemic exclusion of domestic workers from the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act. Key leaders, including Ai-jen Poo and Michele Vana, convened the first national gathering at the 2007 United States Social Forum, uniting over 20 organizations from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. This founding was part of a broader resurgence in worker center movements and was influenced by the successful passage of a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights in New York in 2010, the first such law in the nation.

Mission and goals

Its central mission is to win dignity, power, and fair labor standards for domestic workers by transforming isolated, undervalued work into a respected profession. Core goals include extending comprehensive legal protections, such as minimum wage and overtime coverage, to all domestic workers under state and federal law. The organization also seeks to combat workplace abuses and discrimination while building a powerful national membership base that can advocate for broader policies supporting caregiving and racial justice. This work is framed within a larger vision of valuing care work and achieving equity for women of color and immigrant communities.

Key campaigns and initiatives

A landmark campaign was the successful push for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in multiple states, beginning with the historic victory in New York and followed by legislation in California, Hawaii, and Illinois. The We Dream in Black initiative focuses on organizing and elevating the voices of Black domestic workers across the South and Northeast. Another major effort is the Caring Across Generations campaign, a coalition co-founded with Jobs With Justice, which advocates for a transformed long-term care system and protections for both care workers and recipients. The Alia platform was launched as an innovative benefits portal to provide portable benefits like paid time off.

Organizational structure and leadership

It operates as a national alliance of over 70 affiliate organizations, including local worker centers, unions like the Service Employees International Union, and community groups across more than 30 states. The governing body includes a board of directors composed of worker-leaders, affiliate representatives, and allied supporters. Ai-jen Poo, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellow, serves as President, and Andrea Cristina Mercado leads as Executive Director. Key affiliated organizations include Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network and the Institute for Policy Studies, with strategic partnerships extending to the AFL–CIO and the Ford Foundation.

Impact and recognition

Its advocacy has directly contributed to the passage of Domestic Workers Bill of Rights laws in nearly a dozen states and cities, extending protections to hundreds of thousands. The alliance's model of organizing precarious workers has influenced global movements, contributing to the adoption of the International Labour Organization's C189 - Domestic Workers Convention, 2011. It has received numerous accolades, including the George Polk Award for its documentary work and recognition from *Time* magazine, which named Ai-jen Poo one of the 100 Most Influential People. The organization's work is frequently cited in major media like The New York Times and has shifted national discourse on care, labor, and immigration policy.

Category:Organizations based in New York City Category:Labor organizations based in the United States Category:Organizations established in 2007