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letter to Hazel Brown From Ida Le Blanc, 1st January, 2002 Dear Hazel, I always feel a joy in my heart when any woman whether in Trinidad and Tobago or elsewhere get recognition for their hard work. Hazel I know for a fact you are doing work on behalf of women, with regards to Solar cooking, Cancer work and Women in Politics and you are the only woman in the movement who boldfaced enough to speak up on any issue, whether people laugh at you or not. But Hazel this takes the cake. I read, not once, but today is the second time in approximately three weeks, I am reading on the newspaper- "Hazel is known for her volunteer work over the last three decades which include......helping to improve the plight of the low-paid domestic worker...." Newsday - 27th Dec, 01. pp26 Hazel you know and I know and all the other women in the women‘s movement here in Trinidad and Tobago know that The National Union of Domestic Employees is the only Union/organisation championing the cause of Domestic workers. We have been lobbying for over two decades for Domestics to gain recognition as workers under the Industrial Relations Act. It began with Clotil Walcott in 1980 when she formed the National Union of Domestic Employees - yes, 1980 - and has continued for some years now with me spearheading this work and many low-paid women and men supporting and struggling alongside us. Recently, after much lobbying and knocking on the Minister‘s door (as was mentioned in the Hansard on the debate on the Amendments to the Minimum Wages Act) we finally won the right to hear cases of non compliance of the Minimum Wages Order in the Industrial Court. The National Union of Domestic Employees is the first Trade Union to have carried the first two Minimum Wage disputes of non compliance of the Minimum Wages Act to the Industrial Court. In both instances the Union represented Domestic Workers. We also won compensation in the Ministry of Labour for two domestic workers, with cases still pending at the Ministry of Labour and the Industrial Court. What we have done has made history, but we do not boast about it because we do not have the time to do so. Because we are busy seeking justice not only for domestic workers but for other low income women and men with our limited financial and human resources. But I must pause from my work to tell you how disappointed I am. It has really hurt my heart to see how feminist women can be our worst enemy. How women scab on our backs. When we have done all the ground work and continue to work for and on behalf of domestics and low income women and men. People like you in particular can scab on our backs. The gap between middle class and grassroots women is hardly discussed among the middle class women, but that gap is wide and widening, and it will never close in, when we as grassroots women already do not trust the majority of you middle class women, with good reason, and when you continue to be dishonest we distrust you even more. But then do you care? There is so much discrimination that we as grassroots women have to face, and when we have to face it in the women‘s movement it is even more disturbing and aggravating. I call on you Hazel to name the activities that you have apparently received funding to co-ordinate on behalf of Domestic workers that has remained a secret from NUDE that you can now boast and claim that you are helping to improve the plight of the low-paid domestic worker. We all at the grassroots level would like to know. Or is it because you represented the NGO‘s on the Minimum Wages Board, which to me does not give you that right to tell such stories to give yourself credibility from a struggle other women made and which you didn’t lift a finger to help with. This is just classical middle class pimping. Remember when we came back from Bejing in 1995, the women‘s movement started their lobby on some sixteen point plan correct me if I am wrong with respect to the number. I went to the meetings because I felt truly energized after that Conference, I felt, yes, something will really be done for grassroots women, and I truly believed the women‘s movement would assist NUDE in getting recognition for Domestics as workers, and I also wanted to ensure that Domestic workers would be on the agenda. But women in decision making position was the main theme. Some of the women found themselves on Boards. But who were they going to represent on these Boards? That is when you yourself got appointed on the Minimum Wages Board which was wrong Hazel, that was when we should have spoken out, because NUDE was the organization within the NGO‘s at that time that should have represented the NGO‘s on the Board. We should have been given the right to represent Domestic Workers on the Minimum Wages Board. But mistakenly we said, leave Hazel alone, and let us see what she would do. The next thing happened was that all domestic and other low paid workers had lost their right to their paid meal break under the Minimum Wages Order. You did not tell us or say something, you remained quiet. I would really like to know who you are accountable to? Imagine you even got your friend who was formerly a member of NGO‘s and now works with the United Nations to form the alternative member on the Tri-partite Committee. I would really like to know who you are accountable to. I would really like to know why the so-called women’s movement wants to be in decision-making positions. Not for us, but just for themselves, to have power at our expense. Do you remember the year that I fought for the NGO‘s to make Domestic workers their theme on International Women‘s Day. That never happened Hazel, you never did anything to persuade the other women on the importance of giving visibility to Domestic Workers. Instead you told me that we must set up a committee within the NGO‘s where we can report to the committee and you will take it to the Board. I never took you on with that, because we want to speak for ourselves. Hazel, how come you don’t know that we want our voices heard too, not only yours and the other ambitious women? Because what we Domestic Workers want will always be different to what you feel we should get. Did you know that a Domestic Worker could work to up to twenty five years with an employer, and she has no rights to severance benefits, when domestic workers seek to get registered under the NIS they usually end up getting fired. Do you know that Domestic workers are still not getting the $7.00 per hour that is stipulated by law, they are not getting sick leave and vacation leave and they are even fired when they become pregnant. Hazel, we often have to wonder if it is a big conspiracy in the women’s movement to keep Domestic Workers right where they are: impoverished, underpaid, overworked and invisible. It is no secret that most feminists are employers of Domestic Workers! So how can they speak for us? One last thing. You act like we are alone without power. But we have more power than you think. We have been building a good, strong grassroots network, and that is not only in this country, and not only in the Caribbean but all over the world who give us support and courage. Hazel, just remember, we will be keeping an eye on you. I know this letter will bring the wrath of the middle class women onto our grassroots Trade Union. But our backs are broad, we went this far despite you, and we have no choice but to call it as we know it and see it, in self-defence of our movement. All the same Happy New Year and come clean in 2002. Yours In The Service of The Working Class Ida Le Blanc Cc |