Vania Arana: Sometimes it smells so bad that it's even hard to breathe

Vania Arana was born in Peru in the late sixties, but she has been living in Catalonia for over thirty years. She arrives at the interview wearing a green t-shirt with the phrase: "Organize yourself if you don't want to be organized." It is the motto of Las Kellys, the union she presides over and which brings together hotel maids, that is, women who, like Vania, clean hotels.

What did you play as a child?

— I liked being a teacher. And I also played at making cakes, at cooking... I remember picking up the broom with my friends and playing at cleaning. It seemed fun then. 

You studied, in fact, to be a teacher.

— Language and literature. But I wanted to conquer the world and decided to leave. I arrived in Barcelona just after the Olympic Games and I ran into reality. I sank. 

Why?

— I couldn't validate the degree, I couldn't do anything. The only options I had were cleaning houses and taking care of elderly people or children. And I entered a house. You won't believe the first night.

What happened?

— I had to take care of an elderly man who was sick and could practically not move. I arrived at dusk. He told me he wanted a juice, I prepared it for him, he drank it, and after a while I looked at him and thought: "I think he has stopped breathing".

Wow...

— I approached and, indeed, he had died. I called the family by phone and they told me: "Cover him up and we will come tomorrow morning". 

What a pity, that they are not able to come right away…

— I couldn't believe it. Afterwards, I was in other houses and I saw that it was a job I couldn't do, it wasn't for me. I saw elderly people alone, suffering. During that time, I left crying every day.

And didn't you consider returning to Peru?

— I was very discouraged, but I thought that with how much it had cost me to get here, I couldn't go back. My visa expired, I became illegal, and it was four terrible years until I got my papers. 

Do you remember the day they gave them to you?

— …

It must be a lot of emotions…

— It had been a long time since I remembered it. It was exciting, because I was afraid for a long time that the police would stop me. That's why I only worked locked up in houses. 

After that you enter the hotels to clean. What did you think on the first day?

— If I can handle this, I can handle anything. 

Cleaning is…

— Focus 100% on what you are doing, and be clear that each day will be a challenge. Your work is your mark, and what gives dignity to what you do.

Do you feel valued?

— Society has always seen the cleaning woman as a mop, someone without culture. And I am clear that not everyone is suited for this job. During the 2008 crisis, even husbands of cleaning women who were unemployed would come. Out of ten, one would last. And this one would also leave over time.

Why didn't they hold on?

— Cleaning is tough, you have to handle liquids, pay attention to details, there are always rushes, the rooms are from the day before yesterday…

And you must find all sorts of things.

Sometimes you enter and it's barely noticeable that someone has been there. The typical very clean conference attendee. And from others...

Others, what?

— As soon as you enter, it smells so bad that it's hard to breathe. And the windows, to avoid accidents, cannot be opened, or they open only a few centimeters. So you have to put up with it. 

What is the worst thing you have encountered?

— Vomiting. But vomiting everywhere. Bloody towels. Everything. 

You are wearing a t-shirt with a message.

— "Organize yourself if you don't want to be organized." It is a t-shirt from Las Kellys.

How were Las Kellys born?

— From tiredness. We started to exchange experiences through Facebook. Many, for example, couldn't leave work at the time we were supposed to because we had to finish the rooms even though the workday was already over. And those from Barcelona said: "Why don't we associate?"

And the union is born. How did you decide on the name?

— We are always spoken of as: the one who cleans. Without even giving us a name. And we decided to play with that. The ones who clean. And keep the queli, transformed into kelly.

What is the most important thing they have achieved?

— The recognition that we exist. I remember Spanish women in the late nineties, when I arrived, who spoke whispering in hotels, complaining about the time we left. And I didn't understand them. 

What did you not understand?

— They will complain about that. I thought: "At least we have jobs." What a concept I had. It's what I learned in Peru and what exists in many Latin American countries: even if you work a lot, you have to keep going and feel fortunate to earn money. I never thought: "Do I have labor rights?" I learned from them. 

Let's play pretend that you have all the hotel businessmen of Catalonia in front of you. What do you tell them?

— May they be aware of our work. And may they not subcontract. Now there are companies that do not work with the hotel industry agreement, but with the cleaning one, which is worse.

And to the clients?

— Respect. Without respect there is no dignity. 

You have two children. What are you trying to convey to them?

— May they be free and may they not let anyone judge them. And if they do, may they find a way to not care. 

Have you felt judged?

— Many times. I am aware that claiming rights has consequences and, in fact, I tell the women who are part of Las Kellys not to mention it in their workplace. Although I, who have experienced everything, now have the good fortune of having a supervisor who respects and defends us. She tells us that we have value. This had not happened to me until now.