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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We know that unions promote economic equality and build worker power, helping workers to win increases in pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions. But that’s not all unions do. Unions also have powerful effects on workers’ lives outside of work.
The Build Back Better Act would create jobs, lower costs and protect workers’ rights. The House already passed it, and now it’s the Senate’s turn.
Baristas at the Elmwood Starbucks in Buffalo, NY declared victory yesterday in the first union election in the history of the coffee giant.
A clear majority of the iHeartPodcast Network, the fastest growing division of iHeartMedia, signed union cards to organize with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). The Guild has called on management to voluntarily recognize the union.
Columbia student workers are still on strike in what is currently the largest such action in the country. Three thousand workers, including undergraduate and graduate teaching and research assistants at Columbia University, are now in the sixth week of their strike.
The 30-member editorial staff at The Intercept, the investigative journalism digital news site, last night ratified its second union contract with the Writers Guild of
Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) on strike against Kellogg’s in Battle Creek, Mich., Lancaster, Pa., Omaha, Neb. and Memphis, Tenn. have overwhelmingly voted to reject the tentative agreement.
Workers at billionaire John Catsimatidis's United Metro Energy Corp have been on strike since April 19th.
We have always known that reducing class size is integral to student achievement, teacher retention and equitable schools, but it’s now also become an issue of public health. We must learn from the pandemic and take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses in the future.
The Workers United Education Program/CWE offers free English language and High School Equivalency classes (in English and Spanish) by Zoom.
Classes began in September but with open enrollment members can join at any time.