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42-520: There are two million domestic workers in the US, most of whom are immigrants and women of color. They are a very diverse and largely overlooked group, and most make less than 13 dollars an hour. The NDWA advocates for a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights , including overtime pay, one day off per week, and protection under state human rights laws. A version of this bill of rights was passed in New York in 2010 thanks to

84-478: A day or 45 hours a week. The city of Seattle is the first to add a minimum wage, set break times, and political representation to all domestic workers. It was unanimously passed July 23, 2018, and will be enforced starting July 1, 2019. The legislation classifies domestic workers as independent contractors, whose pay must be the equivalent to minimum wage, and prohibits employers from keeping workers' personal documents like passports. Future regulations will be made by

126-447: A half) for working over 40 hours a week (or 44 hours if the employee resides in the home of their employer). This law also establishes that workers must be granted one day (24 hours) off every seven days of work or be paid overtime pay if the employee agrees to work on this day. Also, after one year of work with the same employer, domestic workers are granted three paid days off every year. Although domestic workers were already covered by

168-517: A list of three finalists and he chose Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz , despite Inouye's stated wish that he select Colleen Hanabusa . Schatz is now Hawai'i's senior U.S. Senator . Obama appointed Abercrombie to the Council of Governors , and he served from 2012 to 2014. The council consists of 10 governors the president appoints to focus on national security, homeland defense, and synchronization and integration of state and federal military activities in

210-567: A newly established 13-member board. Neil Abercrombie Neil Abercrombie (born June 26, 1938) is an American politician who served as the seventh governor of Hawaii from 2010 to 2014. He is a member of the Democratic Party . Born in Buffalo, New York , Abercrombie is a graduate of Union College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa . He began his political career in 1975, winning

252-421: A nursing home, childcare center or home, as an employee of a caregiving agency, or as an independent direct-pay employee. Most of domestic workers are foreign born and the primary income earners in their families. Of these foreign born, most are women of color. In the 20th century, domestic workers were majority African Americans, whose exploitation was deliberate as the history of them was related to slavery in

294-756: A part-time worker, such as a baby-sitter. Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie signed a domestic workers bill of rights in July 2013, making Hawaii the second U.S. state to give nannies, housekeepers and others protections on wages and other labor issues. The domestic workers bill in Hawaii makes it illegal to discriminate against domestic workers based on several factors, including race, gender and sexual orientation. It also establishes protections, overtime, rest breaks, and protection from abuse and harassment for them. It covers cooks, waiters, butlers and others, including some baby sitters; it went into effect immediately. California had

336-564: A seat in the Hawai'i House of Representatives . He served in the Hawai'i House until 1979, when he was elected to the Hawai'i State Senate . Upon the resignation of Cecil Heftel , who resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives to run for governor, Abercrombie was elected to his vacant seat in a special election in 1986, but lost the Democratic primary for a full term on the same day. Abercrombie served

378-496: A senior member of the Natural Resources Committee . He co-authored landmark legislation creating public-private partnerships between the military and private developers to build, maintain and manage housing for military families. On March 9, 2009, Abercrombie announced his candidacy for governor of Hawai'i. On December 11, 2009, he announced that he would resign from Congress to concentrate on his gubernatorial bid. He

420-609: A waiter at Chuck's Steak House in Waikīkī , a locker desk clerk at the Central YMCA , a custodian at Mother Rice Preschool, a construction apprentice program director, an elementary school teacher, and a college lecturer. Abercrombie first participated in a political campaign in 1970, seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate . Unsuccessful, Abercrombie ran for the Hawai'i State House of Representatives , where he served from 1975 to 1979. A distinguishing symbol of his early campaigns

462-516: A years-long debate about passing a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. A 2012 California bill, which was inspired by the New York Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, would have entitled domestic workers to overtime pay, eased eligibility requirements for workers' compensation, and provided them with meal and rest breaks, the right to eight hours of sleep, and the right to use their employers’ kitchens to cook their own food. That bill passed

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504-523: Is supported by both the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and American Library Association . He was one of the 67 representatives to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 and has also voted against a constitutional amendment proposed in 2006 to limit marriage to being between one man and one woman. He was one of only nine representatives not to cast a vote for or against

546-477: The 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary election on September 18, 2010, 59.3% to 37.7%. On November 2, 2010, Abercrombie defeated Republican nominee Duke Aiona , 57.8% to 40.8%, to become Hawai'i's 7th governor. In his November 3 victory speech, he credited many people for his success, including the founder of the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , Dr. Mitsuo Aoki . Abercrombie

588-835: The Black Lives Matter network, is the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Domestic Worker%27s Bill of Rights A Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights is legislation designed to grant basic labor protections to domestic workers . These laws are supported by the National Domestic Workers Alliance , a labor advocacy group founded in 2007. The first such law took effect in New York state on November 29, 2010. Among other rights, this law gave domestic workers

630-604: The Majuro Declaration as a U.S. Climate Leader in September of that year, making the state the first sub-national government to sign. After an intense special session, Abercrombie signed into law a bill that legalized marriage for same-sex couples in Hawai'i. The new law took effect on December 2, 2013. Hawaii was the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage. In the August 9, 2014, Democratic gubernatorial primary , Abercrombie

672-594: The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) or the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The structure of the domestic labor industry contributed to the difficulty of formally establishing legal rights, as it is difficult to organize domestic workers and enforce a labor standard that will be followed by all employers. Workplaces are private homes that vary in the treatment of workers. A Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights campaign started in 2003. It

714-569: The USA PATRIOT Act in 2001. In 2005 he voted against the extension of the act, calling it "a blank check to trample civil liberties." In 2007 he signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 676 , which would have established a national health insurance program. He resigned from Congress on February 28, 2010, to concentrate on his campaign for governor. Abercrombie served as chairman of the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and

756-496: The Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence, which is where she became aware of the overlooked needs of domestic workers. In 2014, she was awarded a MacArthur fellowship, "a five-year grant given to the nation’s most exceptionally creative individuals, to fund her vibrant, worker-led movement to transform the working conditions and labor standards for private-household workers." Alicia Garza , who co-founded

798-552: The NDWA's advocacy, and similar legislation has recently been introduced in California. Ai-jen Poo is the president and Jenn Stowe is the executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Poo was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her mother was a PhD student, so she was raised largely by the women in her community. When Poo was studying at Columbia, she started volunteering with

840-504: The New York State Human Rights Law if they have been harassed due to gender, race, sex, religion, or origin. The employer cannot make any unwanted sexual advances including both physical and verbal sexual actions. If the worker files a complaint, the employer cannot retaliate. This law covers all full-time workers, including immigrants. This law does not cover people who are related to the person they care for, or if they are

882-812: The United States . The result was that Southern members of Congress, states where slavery was an valuable asset, prevented domestic workers to be included under federal labor laws during the New Deal era. No protections or laws for workplace standards covered domestic workers. Privately employed domestic workers are the most isolated and exploited members of the workforce. Domestic workers frequently face issues such as long work hours for low pay, sudden terminations, no specific sick or personal or vacations days, and physical or verbal abuse. Even if domestic workers seek support when their rights are violated, there were none available as they are not covered under civil rights laws,

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924-458: The United States and matters of mutual interest pertaining to the National Guard . In November 2013, Abercrombie was named to Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, a group of governors, mayors and other leaders who were to develop recommendations on how the federal government could better support local preparedness and resilience-building efforts. Hawai'i also signed on to

966-408: The United States, it is estimated that over two million women can be considered a domestic worker . Domestic workers fulfill various roles from nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers. Domestic workers may work as a caregiver of a person, place, or thing outside the home performing domesticated responsibilities. Domestic workers can also work in environments outside of a personal residential home such as

1008-529: The Vatican over not listing torture as a sin. According to Project Vote Smart , Abercrombie holds the following issue positions: he is pro-choice, has voted against a ban on partial birth abortion, and has voted with the interests of NARAL and Planned Parenthood 100% of the time between 2000 and 2006. He has voted for bills designed to make it easier for Americans to vote, such as the motor voter bill. He has advocated strongly for civil liberties; his voting record

1050-593: The aftermath of the Great Recession , restructuring labor union pensions, and his selection of Brian Schatz over Colleen Hanabusa to fill the Senate seat vacated by Daniel Inouye 's death, which was considered disrespectful of Inouye's wishes, were regarded as factors in Abercrombie's loss. [1] Nonetheless, Schatz, who was also endorsed by Obama, defeated Hanabusa in the 2014 Democratic Senate primary and went on to win

1092-431: The five-candidate Democratic primary with 59% of the vote. Abercrombie went on to face Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona , in the general election . On November 2, 2010, Abercrombie and running mate Brian Schatz defeated Aiona with 57% of the vote. Abercrombie was sworn into office on December 6, 2010. In 2014 , he was defeated in the Democratic primary by state senator David Ige , who went on to win

1134-650: The general election. Abercrombie was born on June 26, 1938, in Buffalo, New York, the son of Vera June (née Grader) and George Donald Abercrombie. He has English , Irish and German ancestors. His paternal great-grandfather James Abercrombie left Ireland for Canada; his son then immigrated to the United States. After graduating from Williamsville High School (now Williamsville South High School ), Abercrombie pursued studies in sociology at Union College in Schenectady, New York , where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1959 and

1176-491: The general election. In 1981, Abercrombie married Nancie Caraway , a political scientist and feminist writer at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Globalization Research Center. Abercrombie lives in the Mānoa Valley area of Honolulu . Abercrombie is a powerlifter and has a stated goal of lifting 200 pounds more than his age on each birthday. On his 72nd birthday, he bench-pressed 272 pounds. In 2006, Abercrombie

1218-567: The investigations into President Obama's birth certificate. A spokesperson for Abercrombie said he would ask the office of the Attorney General what it could do. State Attorney General David M. Louie informed Abercrombie that state privacy laws prevent the release of "an individual's birth documentation without the person's consent" to persons who do not have "a tangible interest" in the document. According to polls, in October 2011, Abercrombie

1260-525: The minimum wage law, this bill ensures that domestic workers receive $ 7.25 per hour. Employers must pay their workers weekly and cannot deduct money from the employee's paycheck without written permission. Employers must now keep a payroll and provide workers with written notifications regarding sick days, vacation days, and work schedules. Domestic workers who work at least 40 hours a week are now entitled to Workers' Compensation Insurance and Disability Benefits. This law also gives domestic workers coverage under

1302-654: The remainder of Heftel's term until January 1987. He served on the Honolulu City Council from 1988 to 1990 before returning to Congress in 1991. Abercrombie served nine consecutive terms in the House from 1993 to 2010, representing Hawai'i's 1st congressional district , consisting of urban Honolulu . With incumbent Governor Linda Lingle prevented from running for reelection due to term limits, Abercrombie declared his candidacy for governor in March 2009. In September 2010 he won

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1344-551: The right to overtime pay , a day of rest every seven days, three paid days of rest each year (after one year of work for the same employer), protection under the state human rights law, and a special cause of action for domestic workers who suffer sexual or racial harassment . In July 2013, Hawaii became the second state to implement basic labor protections for domestic workers . In January 2014, similar legislation took effect in California; by 2019, nine states had enacted legislation granting labor rights to domestic workers. In

1386-570: The state Senate and the concurrence vote in the Assembly, but California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed it on September 30, 2012. However, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (AB 241) was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown on September 26, 2013, and went into effect on January 1, 2014. The law makes nannies, private healthcare aides and other domestic workers in California eligible for overtime pay if they work more than nine hours

1428-602: Was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He arrived in Honolulu in September 1959 to study at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , where he earned a master's degree in sociology and later a doctorate in American Studies. At the university he befriended and attended classes with President Barack Obama 's parents, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama, Sr. To support himself as a graduate student, Abercrombie worked as

1470-470: Was a yellow Checker Taxi with his name and face painted on the side, the use of which was motivated by lack of money for traditional campaigning methods. The taxi became a symbol of both his standing as an outsider from the mainland and his unconventional style. In 1979, Abercrombie was elected to the Hawai'i State Senate , where he served from 1980 to 1986. After U.S. Representative Cecil Heftel resigned in July 1986 to run for governor of Hawai'i, Abercrombie

1512-488: Was defeated by state senator David Ige , taking 31% of the vote to Ige's 67%, making him the first incumbent governor to lose a primary in Hawai'i's history. The margin of defeat was the largest of any incumbent governor in U.S. history (though not the smallest share of the vote). Abercrombie had the support of President Barack Obama and had outspent Ige $ 4.9 million to $ 447,000 during the primary campaign. His confrontational style of governing, his proposal to raise taxes in

1554-471: Was elected to the House in a September 1986 special election to complete Heftel's unexpired term. On the same day, he lost the Democratic primary for a full two-year term to Mufi Hannemann , who lost to Republican Pat Saiki in the general election. Abercrombie then set his sights on a seat of the Honolulu City Council . He won the race and served from 1988 to 1990. At the end of his council tenure in 1990, Abercrombie once again ran for Congress and won. He

1596-792: Was pushed by the Domestic Workers United (DWU) and the NY Domestic Workers Justice Coalition. After a six-year grassroots campaign, the Governor of New York signed the Domestic Worker's Bill of Rights. Under the New York Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, a domestic worker is defined as someone who works in another person's home who is not related to them and is not a part-time job. This bill gives domestic workers an eight-hour work day and overtime (time and

1638-584: Was reelected ten times. In the 2008 election, he won with 70.6% of the vote. Abercrombie was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and compiled a generally liberal voting record. He supported and voted for the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act . On October 10, 2002, he was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the 2003 invasion of Iraq . He cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005. He took issue with

1680-916: Was succeeded in Congress by Republican Charles Djou , the first Republican elected to Congress from Hawai'i since Pat Saiki. During his campaign, Abercrombie released his "A New Day in Hawai'i Plan," offering a roadmap based on Hawai'i's values and priorities. The plan was the result of conversations with thousands of people and many hours of research. Abercrombie met with business people, entrepreneurs, economists, principals, teachers, parents, academics, public employees, farmers, nonprofit leaders, health professionals, students, seniors, conservationists, cultural practitioners, construction workers, and citizens of all backgrounds. He also held dozens of issue forums and meetings on every island to hear from residents about their concerns and hopes for Hawai'i. Abercrombie defeated his challenger, former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, in

1722-439: Was sworn in as governor of Hawai'i on December 6, 2010, the first gubernatorial victor of the 2010 election cycle to be sworn into office. Abercrombie was 72 when he was sworn in as governor, and was the oldest current United States governor for a little less than a month. On January 3, 2011, he lost that title to Jerry Brown of California, who is two months older than Abercrombie. When Abercrombie took office, he vowed to end

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1764-511: Was the least popular governor in the country, with a 30% approval rating. In February 2011, Abercrombie signed into law a bill legalizing civil unions . His predecessor, Linda Lingle, had vetoed the legislation . In 2013, he called the Hawai'i Legislature into a special session to consider a bill legalizing same-sex marriage , which he signed into law on November 13. Upon the death of longtime Senator Daniel Inouye , Abercrombie had to appoint his replacement. The State Democratic Party gave him

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