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:

Aug 12, 2022 | News Story

Hundreds of workers employed by Gannett-owned newsrooms took a coordinated lunch break yesterday in response to a string of emails from upper management last week that

Aug 12, 2022 | News Story

Last month, CJNY's LI Regional Director, Mariah Dignan, spoke with students at William Floyd HS in Mastic Beach about the importance of union career pathways and the integral role labor will play in offshore wind development in NYS.

Aug 12, 2022 | News Story

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on this week’s Senate victory for working people:

Today the Senate passed legislation that will transform the lives of working families at every level, and we urge the House of Representatives to pass this bill swiftly and send it to President Biden’s desk.

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

New York City’s neglect for its Staten Island Ferry mariners, who have been working for the last 11 years without a contract, impacted other working New Yorkers this week when the system suffered service disruptions due to understaffing caused by the NYC Department of Transportation's failure to

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

Nearly 300 journalists at Reuters, the global news agency, walked off the job yesterday for 24 hours in protest of management’s slow-walking contract renewal negotiations, the first major labor action by journalists at the company in more than 30 years.

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

UPS workers across the country — including 14 locations in the New York region — rallied this week to launch the Teamsters contract campaign, a one-year effort to inform and mobilize members to win the strongest possible contract at UPS.

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU) had a huge victory this week, securing their inclusion in the New York State Health Care Worker Bonus Program.

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

A strong contingent of New York State Alliance of Retired Americans leaders participated in the ARA virtual National Membership meeting July 27-28. The program included addresses by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Raymond, along with U.S. Rep.

Aug 5, 2022 | News Story

On July 27, Governor Hochul announced the procurement of up to 2GW of offshore wind capacity for projects; supply chain investment plans (SCIP) of $300-450 million to fund localize component manufacturing and ports; utilization of meshed ready offshore grid connection for projects; and a workforc