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.
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On March 25, 1911, 146 workers—mostly young, immigrant women—were killed in a horrific fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory at Washington Place and Greene Street in lower Manhattan. Inadequate fire escapes, locked doors, and an overall disregard for worker safety contributed to the tragedy.
Union members and allies, this weekend let's stand up to show solidarity with the dozens of young workers who died in the Triangle Fire. They had no union, no safety laws, no one protecting them.
On Thursday, Climate Jobs NY joined with unions, elected officials, and environmental justice advocates on the steps of City Hall to call on Mayor Adams and the New York City Council to implement our Carbon Free and Healthy Schools Initiative (CFHS).
On Tuesday evening, resident physicians of One Brooklyn Health, who are also members of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare, gathered outside Brookdale Hospital to mark two years of COVID in NYC.
On Thursday, AFGE members rallied at the Brooklyn VA Hospital to reject the VA's proposal to close medical facilities, reduce VA services, and cut the jobs of those who care for our nation's heroes.
After 232 years, the first Black woman has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. And if the national Labor Movement has anything to do with it, she’ll also be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. The Senate must confirm her immediately.
Union members in every industry, occupation and region of the country have proudly and bravely served in the armed forces of the United States. During the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution to form the Union Veterans Council.
Unlike other forms of discrimination, in most places in the U.S. there’s no clear law against weight-based discrimination.
Public employees are leaving their jobs. At a time when costs are rising at unbelievable rates, it’s no surprise that these workers are moving on to higher paying jobs in order to get by.