A growing number of low-wage service sector workers, many of whom had been excluded from traditional labor unions, began to mobilize in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Often led by domestic workers, they developed new models of organizing: recruiting workers in public spaces, publicly shaming abusive employees, and pushing for legislation to ensure greater protections for workers.

In 2003, Damayan, along with various domestic workers organizations in NY, organized a domestic workers coalition under the leadership of Domestic Workers United (DWU). DWU also coordinated a domestic workers convention where the organizations drafted the NYS DW Bill of Rights. The robust campaign and coalition work exposed Damayan to citywide organizing around domestic workers issues.