The Governor Can Veto a Law, But He Can’t Veto a Movement
October 12, 2012 8:25 am
This Summer, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (Senate Bill A.B. 889) made it through the California legislature but foundered when it reached the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown. Brown vetoed the bill, kowtowing to pressure from the Chamber of Commerce, and in so doing, denied basic workers’ rights to the state’s 200,000 nannies, home healthcare workers, housekeepers and other domestic workers. The bill would have mandated overtime, uninterrupted sleep, meals and rest breaks.
Writing for the Huffington Post, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Ai Jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, rued Brown’s veto, but reassured supporters that the worldwide momentum and coalition behind the movement for domestic workers’ rights would not be felled by the setback. Trumka also reiterated organized labor’s commitment to securing rights for domestic workers, day laborers and other difficult-to-organize workers.
It is clear now more than ever that the labor movement and the domestic workers’ movement need to continue to work together to protect the rights of all workers.
Working men and women across the globe remain inspired by the advocacy and leadership of domestic workers. Today, domestic workers, working families, faith communities, unions and other allies continue to stand strong. Our movement for all working people is not defined by one law. It is defined by the work that connects us all, our commitment to equal rights and the opportunity for all communities to achieve a better life.
In the U.S., the labor movement continues to forge new partnerships with day laborers, taxi workers, domestic workers and other worker centres built around the dignity of all work.
Communities around the country are joining together in our fight to reestablish opportunity and fairness.
The governor can veto a law, but he can’t veto a movement.
Image from here