Illinois Domestic Workers Celebrate Winning ‘Bill of Rights’

August 26, 2016 

Springfield, IL – Domestic workers in Illinois celebrated Aug. 16, after Gov. Bruce Rauner signed “bill of rights” legislation they had spent five years campaigning for.

The measure extends four state labor laws to cover domestic workers such as nannies, house cleaners, and health-care aides, guaranteeing them a minimum wage, protections against discrimination and sexual harassment, and one day of rest every seven days for workers who are employed by the same employer for at least 20 hours a week. “I have struggled to get by from low wages, wage theft, and disrespect on the job,” said Magdalena Zylinska, a domestic worker and board member of Arise Chicago. “But today I am here to celebrate that our years of organizing have finally paid off.” Illinois is the seventh state to enact such legislation, following New York, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Connecticut. Read more