Housing cooperative of the Domestic Workers Union for its own roof
An important sector of activity, for a long time greatly postponed in terms of the recognition of rights, is in the process of achieving home ownership.
After several frustrated attempts and unfulfilled promises by different governments, domestic workers decided to join together in a housing cooperative, taking advantage of this important tool that the Uruguayan State offers.
The Melo Branch of the SUTD makes history and sets the course in this regard. CO.VI.SUTD Melo is the name chosen and the slogan that became the driving force is Artigas’ well-known phrase: We should expect nothing but from ourselves.
“I was visiting the city of Melo on Saturday where we had a meeting to form a cooperative” confirmed Laura Rivero to THE DIARY PROFESSIONAL.
“We launched a Program at the national level since we see that there is no specific Plan for domestic workers. We have spoken with different political actors, particularly regarding the issue of housing. We have interviewed authorities from the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning basically and unfortunately for domestic workers who are one of the sectors that earn one of the lowest salaries there is no specific housing plan” remarked the President of the Single National Union of Domestic Workers.
“It is for this reason that from the union we are encouraging the subsidiaries to form housing cooperatives. The idea is that in each city or town in the country we can establish networks with the Municipalities” advancement.
Rivero contacted Christian Morel, Communal Chief of Cerro Largo, with the aim of analyzing the possibility of having the support of the Departmental Government. “He told us that we had his support, even though he was not in Melo that weekend.” accurate. “We are going to try to hold a meeting with him to see if we can achieve something because Melo’s subsidiary is precisely a subsidiary that has been fighting for its own roof for many years.” He recalled who for several periods was in charge of the union in Cerro Largo.
“This subsidiary is one of the oldest that has been fighting for many years, so far without success. That was the reason why we decided to form the cooperative with the members of the union that we have been pursuing this objective for so many years.” he stated.
“In the department of Tacuarembó there is another cooperative that has already been formed and is also working” concluded Laura Rivero, President of the Single Union of Domestic Workers of Uruguay.
