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1~0mestics' Cross-Cultural News monthly newsletter of the International Coalition to End Domestics' Exploitation

JULY 1984 l

A NIGHT TO REMEMRER! PRESSURIMG QUEErl'S PARK INTERCEDE's "Swing Into Summer" dance The push is on for domestic workers' rights drew a full house on Saturday, June 30, in ! To support INTERCEDE's call for at the Cecil Community Centre. Members irnnediate changes in the labour laws, a pe­ and friends arrived in a partying mood tition is now circulating throughout the and danced up a storm to the music of province. Addressed to Labour Minister Russ DJ Victor Russell! Sounds of reggae, Ramsay, it says, in part: calypso, funk, rock and soul filled Domestic workers perform a skilled the large auditorium, drawing the cul­ and valuable service and they de- turally diverse crowd of West Indians, serve to be fully recognized in the Fi11pinos, Europeans and on ranks of legitimate workers . to the dance floor together. Today the vast majority of domestic A special perfonnance ' by Jamaican-born workers are women, many of them from dub poet, Lillian Allen, brought the r Third World countries. Under present struggle and the courage of domestic Ontario laws they are treated as se- workers into sharp focus. A former do­ cond class citizens with fewer rights mestic herself, Lillian told the enthu­ than other workers. siastic crowd that whenever anyone tells I call on you to take i1T111ediate ac­ her to "go back where you came from" she tion to upgrade the status of domes­ answers "Canada is 'my home now, and I'm tic work and end the sexism and ra­ staying right here to fight for my rights". cism now sanctioned by Ontario law. The evening's entertainment also included INTERCEDE met with Mr. Ramsay in November, an exciting perfonnance by domestic wor­ 1983, and we argued strongly for the inclu­ kers from the Philippine-Canadian ladies sion of domestic workers in the standard mi­ Circle of the PANDANGGO SA !LAW and TINI­ nimum wage and hours of work and overtime KLING dances. provisions of the Employment Standards Act. We also called on the Minister to grant Amon~ INTERCEDE's special invited guests domestic workers the right to unionize un­ was Dan Heap, r-~ember of Parliament (Spa­ der the Labour Relations Act. dina), who presided over a brief ceremo­ ny to congratulate domestic workers lan­ INTERCEDE has just learned that Mr. Ramsay ded in Canada under the new ilTITlf gration has c0111nissioned DEMAND Research Consultants to prepare a study on the 11 prevailing wages policy. It was a proud moment for the wo­ 11 men who lined up on the platfonn to the and working conditions of domestics across sustained applause of the crowd. Ontario. Also in attendance were: Harry Gairel, We urge all our members and friends to com­ distinguished fighter for minority r ghts; municate your support for INTERCEDE's recom­ James Dudley, of the Movement of Minority mendations to Queen's Park. For copies of ITectors ; Ruben Cusilag, editor of Bii.LITA; our petition contact: Hilliam Doyle-r'arsha l, an editor of SHARE; INTERCEDE Pamela Parris, feminist photographer; and 348 College Street, , Ontario MST lS4 Judit_b__l.'._erril, writer and activist. CROSS CULTURAL LEARNER CENTRE The evenin9 1 s festivities ended with a spi­ 533 Clarence Street, London, Ontario N6A 3J7 rited drav.' for door prizes. Six lucky peo­ OTTAWA-CARLETON IMMIGRANT SERVICES ASSOCIATION ple went home with beautiful gifts donated 425 Glouchester Street, Ottawa, Ontario by 1oca l merchants. HITERCEDE thanks all KlR 5E9 its mem~ers and friends for helping us "Swing Into SufTITler 11 in style! - 2 -

COCO'S CALENDAR AND CONGRATULATIONS! Recent happenings to our new landed inmigrants this month: LUDY ALULOT, EASTLYN FORBES, SAY HOILETT, * on June 9 Judith and I attended the PHIL­ PURLA TAYLOR, and EVELYN YOUNG welcome IPPINE NATIONAL DAY PICNIC at Seton Park to the growing ranks! •.• it was packed with people having a wonderful time! Many signed our petitions * to Steering Committee member CATHY GIL­ to Queen's Park. BERT who was recently married best wishes from all of us! * on June 22 INTERCEDE attended an invita­ tional meeting with Multiculturalism Min­ * to our co-ordinator JUDITH RAMIREZ wtio ister David Collenette to discuss the fe­ was just awarded a Civilian Citation by deral report "Equality Now 11 the Board of Conmfssioners of the Police for her work on the TASK FORCE ON PUBLIC * a recent SHARE interview with Judith on VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ANO CHILDREN the sexual exploitation of non-status domestic workers was carried in major That's all for this month, folks! newspapers in Jamaica and Trinidad she was also interviewed ~n the subject by - Columbia Tarape Diaz CJOB radio in , *on June 31 a busload' of domestics from the PHILIPPINE CANADIAN LADIES CIRCLE JOIN INTERCEDE went on a religious pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima in Youngstown, Ohio $5 Year * Judith was recently elected to the Board SUPPORT THE GROUP THAT SUPPORTS YOU of Directors of the URBAN ALLIANCE ON RACE RELATIONS Coming up KNOW YOUR RIGHTS INTERCEDE SUMMER SPEAKERS SERIES Under Ontario law a domestic worker must receive at least TWO WEEKS PAID VACATION July 8 "Violence Against Women" for each year of employment. This time may by Stacey Mitchener be substituted, with the agreement of em­ Toronto Rape Crisis Centre ployer and employee, for not less than 4% August 12 "Achieving Your Goals" of the employee's gross earnings. Gross by Jean Augustine earnings include the value of room and board. Principal, St. Felix School The two weeks vacation can be either one period of two weeks or two periods of-One The speakers are part of our monthly Sun­ week each. If the employee continues to live day meetings, held at Cecil Community Cen­ 1n during the vacation, the employer may de­ tre, 58 Cecil Street, 2 - 5 pm. duct room and board from the vacation pay. Regardless of the reason for termination, Newsletter Committee: where employment ends before completion of Desiree Hipplewith, Lynette· Munian, Judith a working year, the employee must receive Ramirez, Pamela Skeete, Columbia Tarape Diaz, 4% of any earnings on which she has previ­ Sonia Thomas, Daphne Tucker ously not received vacation pay. If you have any questions or complaints call: A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MEMBERS WHO HELPED INTERCEDE SERVICE UNIT (416) 929-3240 ORGAtHZE THE SWirlG rnro SUMMER DANCE ! ! ! - Cecilia Grave - 3 -

BOOK REVIEW NEW STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTED "Silenced" On Sunday, June 3, 1984, INTERCEDE held its by Makeda Silvera Annual Members Meeting at the Cecil Corrrnu­ Williams-Wallace Publishers nity Centre. Co-ordinator ~udith Ramirez S6.95 opened the meeting by reading the Annual Report and describing the past year as "full The book "Silenced" by Makeda Silvera of hard work and some very real gains". does not shut out the horrible experi­ ence faced by working class West Indian Financial reports were then presented by women living and struggling as domestic Treasurer Lynette Munian and Service Unit workers in Canada. It confronts that ex­ Bookkeeper Desiree Hipplewith. The report perience head on. of the Membership Secretary followed, presen­ ted by Cecilia Grave. A brief question and Moreen, Julie, Angel, Savitri, Hyacinth, answer period was then put to good use by ~· 1olly, ~ 1yrtle, Irma, Primrose and Gail the membership. all have one thing in co1T1T1on - their lives are centered around people who Approximately seventy-five members were pre­ cause them to feel waves of rage, humi- sent and they elected the new 1984-1985 1iation, depression, ana the weight of Steering Co11111ittee. It includes the following broken dreams. Their only comfort is on new people: Linda Lising, Philippines; Bever­ Sunday at church where they escape from ley Wilson, Barbados; Pamela Skeete, Barbados their own private pain : and Cathy Gilbert, from CLASP. Continuing from last year are: Avril Higginson, UK; Dulcie For most of these women, their relation­ Ledgister, Jamaica; Eulene Boyce, Barbados; ship with their employer is like a time Daphne Tucker, Jamaica; Lynette Munian, Guya­ bomb which might exp1ode at any time be­ na; Cecilia Grave, Portugal; and community cause of the deplorable conditions in representative Barbara Jackman, Law Union of which they exist. To many a domestic in Ontario; Judith Ramirez, CASH; Joyce Fraser, Canada, silence is golden: the only way Black Women's Sisterhood; and Columbia Tarape to survive is to rebel inwardly and re­ Diaz, from the Filipino community. fuse to submerge your personality to your employers'. The highlight of the afternoon was hearing from our two special speakers, Harry Gairey, long­ Slavery has been abolished. That moment time crusader in the Black community, and came as a great beam of light to millions Chai Chu Thompson, of the Ontario Coalition of Black slaves who had endured the flames of Visible Minority Women. Both emphasized the of injustice. But one hundred years later need to stand up and demand justice. Mr. Gairey we still face the tragic fact that domes­ inspired everyone with his generous praise of tic workers are not free. The daily life INTERCEDE's work and his likening it to the of a Black domestic is still crippled by drive to organize Black railway porters in the injustice and discrimination. 1940's. Chai Chu Thompson spoke eloquently of the need to fight racism and sexism together The only way to break the dreadful silen­ as "two wings of one bird". ce is for every domestic worker to be conscious of her rights and to fight to At the close of the meeting, a grateful member­ excercise them without fear of losing ship presented a special plaque to Susan Wool­ her job. Makeda Silvera has given us a ner, co-ordinator of the monthly CLASP legal deeply disturbing book. Read it if you CTTnic, for the invaluable contribution made care about justice. by the Osgoode Hall law students to the cause of domestic workers' rights. '. - Desiree Hipplewith - Ph111ip Klass Desiree is a former domestic worker from Copies of the 1983 - 1984 INTERCEDE Annual Guyana who now works with INTERCEDE. Her Report are available free of charge. Write brother, Phillip, is an arts and science to us at 348 College Street, Toronto, Ontario student at the . MST 154, or telephone (416) 929-3240. - - 4 - SERVICE UNIT THRIVING! NOTICE TO ILLEGAL DOMESTICS!

During the first three months of the Ser~ ·1f you have been fn Canada at least five · vice Unit's operation, March to May 1984, years continuosly without status, you have our counsellors have handled 283 inquiries until August 31, 1984, to apply for landing. from domestics, employers and institutions. The Long Tenn Illegal Migrant ProTram, which Fifty-two per cent (523) of these occured came into effect in June, l983, a lows non­ since the official opening on May 6! status people to come forward anonymously, that is, without giving your name. A total of 162 domestic workers were coun­ sel led during this time, 78 of which came The way ft works is that you contact a non­ to the Service Unit for face-to-face inter­ government group like INTERCEDE, not immigra­ views. Of these, 30 received in-depth pre­ tion. After we ask you all the necessary assessment counselling; 23 were rejected for questions, we put your case forward to immi­ landing and their cases are being reviewed; gration officials, without using your name ~ or and 25 received general counselling about any information that could identify you. their rights and obligations. If inmfgration approves your application, they Of the total number of domestic workers issue an "approval in principle" letter which counselled, 53% were from the Caribbean, we pass on to you. You then go fn to frrmfgra­ 26% were from the Philippines, 17% from tf on and they verify all fnfonnatfon. If there Europe and South America, and 5% from the are no problems, you are accepted for landing. UK. This program ends on AUGUST 31, 1984, so ff Of the total number of people dealt with, you think you might qualify for landing, call 86% were fn Canada o.n temporary work pennf ts, one of these non-government conmunity groups while 14% resided here pennanently. The vast inmedf ately: majority, 86%, approached the Service Unit on immigration matters relating to the foreign INTERCEDE SERVICE UNIT (416) 929-3240 domestics program. - Judith Ramirez In addition to our Service Unit counselling, 30 domestic workers were seen at our monthly CLASP (4.16) 667-3150 CLASP legal clinics, bringing the three-month - Susan Woolner total to 192 domestic workers assisted. CENTRAL TORONTO COMMUNITY All INTERCEDE services are free of charge. LEGAL CLINIC (416) 363-0304 INTERCEDE SERVICE UNIT - Rob Adamson 348 College Street, 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario MST 154 YORK COMMUNITY SERVICES (416) 653-5400 Tel. (416) 929-3240 - Bob Armstrong Evenings and week-ends leave a message on All the above groups provide services free of machine and we wf 11 return your call. charge!

DOMESTICS CROSS CULTURAL NEWS Place c/o INTERCEDE Stamp 348 College Street, 2nd Floor Here Toronto, Ontario MST lS4

FIRST CLASS