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:

Mar 3, 2023 | News Story

After delivering a petition last week signed by a majority of contract faculty, NYU contract faculty with Contract Faculty United – UAW, campus allies, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander rallied Wednesday to tell the university administration to respect their right to collective bargaining and agree

Mar 3, 2023 | News Story

We join Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Reps. Bobby Scott (Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) in their call to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Working people are sick of corporations raking in record profits while we can barely support our families.

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

More than 250 legal service workers at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), unionized under the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys - UAW Local 2325 (ALAA), held a two-day strike this week as part of their fight for a fair contract.

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

Resident physicians at Montefiore Medical Center, one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City, celebrated yesterday after learning that they had successfully won union representation with a supermajority of 82% voting in favor of joining the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

“NO CONTRACT, NO PEACE!” That was the rallying cry of over 100 musicians and union supporters who picketed in front of Carnegie Hall on Feb. 20 to demand a fair contract for the DCINY Orchestra, who are represented by AFM Local 802.

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

Members of TWU Local 100 and the Riders Alliance gathered Wednesday outside Grand Central to make the case against service cuts and in support of six minute service and better transit funding.

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

Resident physicians and fellows at Elmhurst Hospital, represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), held a rally on Tuesday to bring attention to what they believe is Mount Sinai’s inequity in the treatment of healthcare workers and to call for a fair contract to benefit thems

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

Alphabet Workers Union-CWA members and their coworkers on the YouTube Music Content Operations team, contracted through Cognizant, are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike after the company issued a Return to Office (RTO) order in response to the workers filing for a certification election wi

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

After winning their union last year (89.5% voted union yes), Mt. Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine Postdoctoral Researchers (members of SPOC-UAW) are still waiting for administrators to agree to basic, routine labor rights in contract negotiations.

Feb 24, 2023 | News Story

Twenty construction workers died on the job in New York City in 2021, according to a new NYCOSH report released this week, with the pace of fatalities rising back to pre-pandemic levels after a year of industry shutdowns.