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 17, 2018 | News Story

For more than a year, Best Market workers have been coming together to voice their concerns about conditions in their stores. Low wages and benefits are not the only issues facing their families; healthy and safe stores are equally important.

Aug 17, 2018 | News Story

Members of the Thrillist Union with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) voted on Monday to authorize a strike after meeting at the WGAE office for a Day of Action rather than reporting to work. 91% voted in favor of the strike authorization.

Aug 17, 2018 | News Story

Verizon workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and at Verizon Connected Solutions voted last Friday to ratify a four year extension of their current contracts, which were set to expire in August 2019.

Aug 17, 2018 | News Story

DC 37 members voted overwhelmingly for a contract that provides for a total wage increase of 7.42 percent and preserves their premium-free health-care coverage with no givebacks. Members voted 31,133 in favor and 743 against the contract, an approval rating of 97.6 percent.

Jul 20, 2018 | News Story

The members of Fordham Faculty United/SEIU Local 200United, the union of more than 800 Fordham University adjunct and full-time, non-tenure-track faculty, voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement with the Fordham administration.

Jul 20, 2018 | News Story

Support staff at CAMBA Legal Services (CLS) this week announced their intent to join the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys - UAW Local 2325.

Jul 20, 2018 | News Story

The city Taxi & Limousine Commission is proposing a minimum wage for drivers, addressing rock-bottom wages among Uber and other for-hire operators, officials said this month.

Jul 6, 2018 | News Story

The 2019 Union Plus Scholarship application is now open! Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $4.3 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.

Jul 20, 2018 | News Story

Yesterday, Verizon workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) announced a tentative agreement on a four year extension of the current contract, which was set to expire in August 2019.