Erline Browne

Erline Browne, who is a professional nanny and a steering committee member of Domestic Workers United - a Bronx-based advocacy group of nannies, elder care givers and household workers - described horrific working conditions and the struggle for legislative relief to about 60 people gathered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church during the coalition's monthly meeting.

Browne told of specific cases where one nanny was repeatedly raped by her male employer, where another worked from 5:30 a.m. one day to 1:30 a.m. the next, of one worker who was denied sick pay after contracting an illness from a sick child for whom she was caring, where overtime was routinely not paid, and where workers - the majority of whom are immigrant women of color - were subjected to physical and emotional forms of abuse or difficult working conditions.

Domestic workers are fighting for the passage of the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights in New York, which would mandate a living wage of $14 an hour, benefits including paid sick and vacation days, protection from summary dismissal, severance pay, and protection from trafficking.

The effort is intended to give dignity to those employed in a vital industry and to have that work recognized as a profession, Browne said.

Local and federal labor laws do not protect domestic workers because their labor is seen as informal.Workers also are prevented from unionizing because the place of work - a private home - is not considered a workplace, Browne said.

She added that she did not think it was a coincidence that the other group so similarly excluded were farm workers.She said the situation highlights the discrimination that is rampant in the industry.

Domestic Workers United, a coalition of several organizations, successfully lobbied for the passage in the New York City Council of the Nanny Bill in 2003.The bill requires employment agencies to provide domestic employers with a code of conduct explaining labor laws and informing workers of their rights.

But that's not enough, Browne said.

Erline Browne, who is a professional nanny and a steering committee member of Domestic Workers United - a Bronx-based advocacy group of nannies, elder care givers and household workers - described horrific working conditions and the struggle for legislative relief to about 60 people at St. Paul's Episcopal Church during the coalition's monthly meeting.

Read more about this story tomorrow in The Journal News.