We Launched the Country’s First Neighborhood Based Standard Raising Model!
This past Sunday, hundreds of domestic workers, employers, and community allies gathered to launch Care Forward, the country's first neighborhood based standards raising model. We developed Care Forward, which will a model for neighborhoods across the city, to address the historic devaluing of care work and inadequate enforcement mechanisms of hard fought protections, while imagining what's possible when workers and employers come together to create standards in their own community. Read on to learn more about the model, photos, and media coverage of our launch!
CGA member Meches shares why Care Forward is so important for domestic workers
We invited children to draw their visions for a community centered in valuing care
Councilmember Brad Lander sharing why investing in the Care Economy and supporting domestic worker rights is so important.
What are the Elements of Care Forward?
Standards Board: Based on a successful model being used in Seattle, will create a committee where employers and domestic workers come together to decide standards such as base wages, fair contracts, and support policy changes such as retirement and vacation for domestic workers.
Training + Outreach: We will ensure that everyone in the neighborhood knows about standards and rights by conducting broad outreach through word of mouth in our parks, parent groups, community spaces, as well as having training for employers and domestic workers to teach their peers about the standards and rights we should uphold.
Conflict Resolution: When standards are broken or employers or workers don’t know how to enforce them, we will offer a process with trained facilitators who can help them work through challenges and make sure everyone is heard in the process. Any employer or worker can request the process and will get the support in pre-meetings, making the request, and check up sessions after.
If you're interested in learning more or helping shape our model, email Ben at bfgoogins@cganyc.org.