This month brought exciting news for New York State's 200,000 domestic workers: After years of struggle, they have passed a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights through both houses of the state legislature. For the first time ever in the United States, domestic workers will have the right to sick days, holidays, vacation, overtime, and notice of termination. We spoke with Priscilla Gonzales, Director of Domestic Workers United and herself the proud daughter of a nanny and housekeeper, about the victory and about how domestic workers, abandoned by labor law, often working alone in private homes, have reached out to one another to organize.
Next, we turn our attention to the funding crisis in higher education. Oregon university system administrators are proposing to save money by restructuring, but students, faculty and staff are concerned that could mean students pay more while faculty and staff get paid less. We spoke with Portland State University student Sami Alloy about the state of the funding crisis and how free speech is curtailed on campus in the name of risk management.
- KBOO