December, 2010
La Colectiva is a worker-run collective that helps empower immigrant women and connect them with jobs. The Labor Occupational Health Program and the San Francisco Department of Public Health work closely with La Colectiva to provide training to members, and learn about better working conditions, effective and safe cleaning techniques, and worker rights. La Colectiva is also a member of the International Domestic Workers Network, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and the National Day Labor Organizing Network.
The campaign highlights the mutual benefits that employers of household workers and the workers themselves gain from this relationship. Employers get the peace of mind that a clean, organized home brings and extra hours in their day for other things. Workers benefit from a good job, which they carry out lovingly and with pride. The campaign ’s theme, “Communicating our Strengths and our Hopes,” (“Comunicando poder y esperanza”) emphasizes the campaigns goals of getting employers to think about a few steps they can take to help support solid, dignified jobs for the women. The project includes a strong call to action for all who employ household workers to use non-toxic products that protect both the health of domestic workers and the families they work for.
The campaign is also targeting women in the community who do domestic work, to invite them to join La Colectiva and be part of this effort to overcome barriers and promote good jobs for this mostly immigrant community. Women are invited to join an organization that will help them obtain not only jobs but “Dignity, respect, and solidarity.”
“We pride ourselves on being home cleaning experts and a voice for immigrant workers in our community,” said Guillermina Castellanos, La Colectiva member. “Members talk about the love and pride they feel in their work, and at the end of the day, what is most important is to feel appreciated for this contribution. We promote dignified jobs, which to us means jobs that are safe, have a living wage and reasonable work loads, and for which we are respected.”
Click here to take a look at La Colectiva's website for more information.