CGNA 2020 Review: Building Domestic Worker Power through a Pandemic
Amidst all of the grief and struggle of 2020, this year has also brought many blessings to CGNA and our movement. We have grown our domestic worker community by thousands of new members, from New Jersey to Westchester, to every borough in NYC. We have shown up to support each other, expand worker rights, and advocate for more resources and protections. Check out our year-end video highlighting some of our accomplishments that we look forward to building on in 2021. We wish you an easeful rest of the year, see you in January!
A delegation of 15 members represented CGNA at the National Domestic Workers Alliance Assembly in Las Vegas.
We grew to 1,300 members, with members from New Jersey to Westchester to every borough in NYC!
Our membership is diverse: Approximately members work as 700 nannies, 400 as housecleaners, 200 as elder care providers
We held 38 new member orientations attended by over 600 members!
Through the National Domestic Worker's Alliance Coronavirus Care Fund, we distributed over $1 Million to thousands of domestic worker across New York and New Jersey
During the pandemic, we made hundreds of wellness calls to members, checking in on them and orienting them to local resources
We made over 3,000 calls and text messages to domestic workers to get out the Count for the 2020 Census
We held over 20 regeneration circles, spaces where members can connect with each other and receive emotional support
Over 40 members enrolled in our first online Spanish and English Classes!
We distributed over 300 Care Packages to members
We fought for expanded rights, passing the new NYC Safe and Sick Leave law, and launching a campaign to pass Intro 339.
We held 33 weekly meetings since March, covering topics from how to access COVID-19 tests, your rights during the pandemic, creating a contract during the pandemic and communicating with your employer, how to access resources for immigrants, and more!
We created partnerships with Hand in Hand, the Office of Worker and Consumer Protection, the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the New York Immigration Coalition, New York City Health and Hospitals, and more!
We also connected by sharing our different cultures, from South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and East Asia, CGNA Members come from all over the World!
CGNA in the Media! We were in several articles from the New York Times, Vice Media, to the American Independent.