Work and Family

Although the “traditional” family—a father who works outside the home and financially supports the children and a mother whose work is keeping the house and raising the children—has been disappearing for more than a generation, our workplaces and government policies have not kept pace with America’s new reality.

Most children are growing up in homes with both parents working or with single parents. One-third of workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, and only 42 percent have paid personal leave. What’s the impact on public health when working people can’t afford to take sick days during a flu epidemic? Who takes care of a sick child? Who’s home to fix dinner and help with homework? Who can dedicate time to a sick elderly parent?

The recession and jobless recovery have complicated life further for working families, when having to leave work for a family emergency could lead to long-term unemployment.

More about this issue:

Feb 1

This coming Saturday, February 1st, the workers and their allies will be rallying at 1199 SEIU on West 43rd Street at 1 pm to celebrate the tenacity and determination of these 300 Brooklyn Cablevision technicians to win a fair collective bargaining agreement. 

Jan 21, 2014 | News Story

On Monday, airport employees and contracted passenger service workers gathered in Queens on 94th Street and Ditmars Blvd. Bridge near LaGuardia Airport to commemorate the life and spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an afternoon protest against low wages and poor work conditions.

Jan 24, 2014 | News Story

On Tuesday, a group of labor, community and elected leaders gathered for a news conference to protest the fast-tracking of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade deal that would kill American jobs, and eradicate environmental protections that working men and women have fought to ma

Jan 17, 2014 | Press Release

New York - New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, President Vincent Alvarez today released the following statement regarding Mayor Bill de Blasio's and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito's announced push to expand the city’s Earned Sick Time law to cover roughly 30

Dec 24, 2013 | News Story

This week, UFCW 1500 members overwhelmingly ratified a new contract for members employed by Stop & Shop.  The new contract complies with the Affordable Care Act, and maintains affordable coverage with no paycheck deductions for full-time workers, while also increasing hours, maintaining denta

Dec 19

WORKERS SAY THEY WILL TAKE A STAND FOR MORAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE IF BI-STATE AGENCY DOES NOT MAKE JAN. 20, 2014 PAID HOLIDAY

Dec 13, 2013 | News Story

This week, members of IBEW Local 1212 reached an agreement with non-union company Team People to bargain over wages, working conditions, and terms of employment.