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:

Jul 2, 2021 | News Story

Staff members of Brooklyn Defender Services (“BDS”), a non-profit public defender organization in Kings County, this week announced the formation of the BDS Union as a chapter of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (“ALAA”) – UAW Local 2325.

Jul 2, 2021 | News Story

Workers at Change.org, a global platform that empowers people to start and win campaigns that address pressing issues in their lives and communities, this week announced that they have formed a union, Solidarity at Change, with the Communications Workers of America’s CODE-CWA project.

Jul 2, 2021 | News Story

One of the priorities Climate Jobs NY leaders emphasized to Secretary Granholm was Carbon Free and Healthy Schools, a campaign committed to making NYC schools carbon free, healthier and safer, while creating good union job

Jul 2, 2021 | News Story

In recent weeks, hundreds of members and allies of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union representing the Metropolitan Opera’s stagehands and skilled craftspeople, gathered in person in front of Lincoln Center to protest the opera company locking out its workers.

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

n recent weeks, hundreds of members and allies of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union representing the Metropolitan Opera’s stagehands and skilled craftspeople, gathered in person in front of Lincoln Center to protest the opera company locking out its workers.

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

In a giant step forward for all New York patients, nursing home residents, nurses and healthcare workers, legal mandates are now in place to set and enforce staffing standards at every hospital and nursing home in New York, regardless of whether the facility is public or private, not-for-profit o

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

More than a thousand coal miners at Warrior Met Coal are now in the third month of their strike in the right-to-work state of Alabama.

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

The NewsGuild of New York has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB after Gannett managers offered employees benefits in exchange for rejecting the union and created the impression that management was spying on workers’ protected union activities.

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

Musicians are working again, thanks to a unique partnership between NYC and Local 802. The union just completed an 8-week performance series called Music Heals, with an encore production on the way.

Jun 25, 2021 | News Story

The recently formed AJWS Union announced this week that management at American Jewish World Service, a leading global Jewish human rights organization. has formally and voluntarily recognized the workers' union affiliated with OPEIU Local 153.