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 26, 2024 | News Story

Following a vote of its Executive Council, which represents 60 unions and 12.5 million workers, on Monday the AFL-CIO unanimously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President in

Jul 26, 2024 | News Story

NYC School Architects, Engineers, and Technical Professionals rallied with community leaders in front of School Construction Authority (SCA) headquarters in Long Island City on Thursday in an attempt to bring SCA back to the bargaining table as wages and benefits for 300-plus workers hang in the

Jul 26, 2024 | News Story

The actors who breathe life into the video games you love are facing an existential threat — and that’s why they've gone on strike effective at 12:01 this morning.

Jul 26, 2024 | News Story

CWA 1180-Bird Union members have been negotiating with Audubon for more than two years for their first union contract, while Audubon has dragged their feet and made attempts to weaken the union, including denying discretionary raises to CWA 1180-Bird Union members that were given to other staff.

Jul 26, 2024 | News Story

Actors’ Equity Association applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).

Jul 26, 2024 | News Story

This week the Department of Homeland Security announced their updated guidance on the "initial period" extending the grant period from 2 to 4 years for deferred action for labor enforcement.

Jul 19, 2024 | News Story

The Bronx Defenders Union Collective Bargaining Committee (BxD CBC) and Bronx Defenders management reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday night, averting a planned strike scheduled for this coming Monday.

Jul 19, 2024 | News Story

Members of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (UAW Local 2325) who work at Catholic Migration Services (CMS) held lunch time pickets in front of the organization's offices in Brooklyn on July 9 and Queens on July 11 as part of their fight for a fair second contract.

Jul 19, 2024 | News Story

Elected officials, advocates, members of Worker’s Justice Project, and Laborers Locals 79 and 1010 LiUNA conducted a multi-stop Road to Justice caravan on Wednesday, July 17th to confront employers who have refused to pay immigrant workers what they are owed.

Jul 24

After 2.5 years of bargaining, Audubon Management is still holding out on the final issues that workers need in our first contract. No, we will not allow management to work people unlimited hours a day or week. No, we will not allow union jobs to be replaced by non union workers.