Breakthrough for Trade Union and Migrant Domestic Workers!

Breakthrough for Trade Union and Migrant Domestic Workers!
CFMW Press Release, Amsterdam, June 27, 2006

About 60 people, mostly migrant domestic workers (MDWs) filled up the hall at the CFMW office on the evening of June 26, to participate in a historic first Trade Union meeting bringing officials of the ABVAKABO FNV and MDWs together for the purpose of joining the trade union.

Welcoming the participants on behalf of CFMW, Mr. Nonoi Hacbang emphasised the significance of this occasion "Five years ago when we started the campaign for the rights of MDWs in the Netherlands, this moment was unimaginable. Today we are making history as a result of the persistence of the MDWs and the response of the ABVAKABO FNV who have taken the significant step to recognise MDWs as workers and to welcome them whether documented and undocumented as members of the trade union".

ABVAKABO FNV was represented by Charlotte van Baaren, Imke van Gardingen, and Coen Helderman who formally introduced the Trade Union and its perspectives on MDWs and explained the role and responsibilities of its members. According to Coen Helderman, "this is also a first moment for our Trade Union, but together we can develop and shape the future possibilities as we come to know more of your working conditions and the challenges you face as workers in the Netherlands".

The meeting then became a lively exchange of experiences with MDWs sharing their conditions of work …." Is working a 54 hour week normal? What about my situation when employers go on holiday - it's a case of no work no pay …and being without contracts, our rights don't count and we are very vulnerable to threats from employers".

Commenting from the floor, Fe Jusay, co-ordinator of the CFMW Women's programme explained that this historic meeting is the culmination of the many initiatives of the RESPECT NL campaign for the rights of MDWs with the participation of MDWs as the principal actors in the campaign -"It is the lack of recognition of domestic work as proper work or as a category for immigration which creates the conditions of vulnerability and violations of MDWs rights as workers and as migrants".

Charlotte van Baaren (ABVAKABO FNV Rotterdam) who has actively campaigned to give visibility to the sector of MDWs within the Trade Union movement said "I didn't realise that this train (inter-action and dialogue of MDWs and the Trade Union) is an inter-city train - moving quite fast and decisively to the point of MDWs becoming trade union members and taking us on a new journey together".

The meeting concluded with an excited buzz as MDWs filled out their Trade Union membership forms. Reflecting the atmosphere of the meeting, Marlyn remarked "Although this is just the beginning, we are now recognised by the trade union and we now feel we are part of the Dutch society".

The meeting was hosted by CFMW, TRUSTED Migrants, Transnational Institute (TNI) and RESPECT NL.

MDWs of all nationalities are welcome to join ABVAKABO FNV - Membership forms and further information is available at: CFMW office, De Wittenstraat 25, 1052 AK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: (00-31) 020-664.6927; 06-4035-0811; 06-2346.3251; E-mail: admin@cfmw.org, Website: www.cfmw.org