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:

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, legislation which will make it possible for tens of millions of workers to exercise our freedom to freely and fairly form a union and bargain together.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

After two years of bargaining, graduate workers at Columbia University (GWC-UAW 2110) are set to go on strike on Monday, March 15th at 10am if the University does not agree to a fair contract. Last spring, 96% of student workers voted 96% yes to authorize a strike.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

On Wednesday, the CLC hosted our 2021 Labor and Civil Rights event, an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate the continuing unity and interdependence of the labor and civil rights movements.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

With the NLRB ballot count completed, the Queens Defenders Union, UAW 2325 has been certified as the bargaining representative of the professional employees of Queens Defenders by a vote of 46-12.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

This week, ahead of the release of the Assembly and Senate one-house budget bills, the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing 30,000 CUNY faculty and staff, launched an ad campaign calling on state legislators to increase funding for CUNY and pass New Deal for CUNY legislation.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

During 2018 and 2019, New York City School Safety Agents confiscated 2,701 weapons that were being brought into schools.

Mar 12, 2021 | News Story

Musicians marked a grim anniversary this week: it's been a year since the NYC music industry shut down, leaving most musicians without pay and benefits for the past 12 months, including the musicians of the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, NYC Ballet, all of Broadway.

Mar 25

Join us on Thursday, March 25, 6pm as we commemorate the lives lost during the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. #TriangleFire #WeRemember

Mar 5, 2021 | News Story

On Sunday, President Biden made perhaps the strongest public statement in support of the right of workers to organize that any American President has made in memory, denouncing

Mar 5, 2021 | News Story

Three weeks ago, CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez decided to ignore the PSC-CUNY contract and refuse to pay equity increases to 2,500 workers in lower-paid full-time staff and faculty positions.