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:

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

The AFL-CIO this week released new polling that reveals the American people’s support of unions — especially that of young workers — and their view of unions as critical to growing the middle class and providing opportunities for working people to thrive.

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

On Wednesday, members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and supporters made it clear to American Airlines management that they are fired up, unified, and standing together for a contract with significant improvements to compensation, retirement, scheduling flexibility, a

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

Visual Effects (VFX) crews at Walt Disney Pictures have filed with for an election to unionize with the backing of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) This marks only the second time in history VFX professionals have joined together to demand the same rights and prote

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

IBEW Local 3 Business Manager Christopher Erikson recently penned an OpEd in amNY on how LinkNYC — the public-private partnership that deploys, operates, and maintains modern telecommunications infrastructure across the city — is providing union job opportunities for New Yorkers who have the driv

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

In this blogcast, Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris spoke with Maida Rosenstein, the organizing director for UAW Local 2110, and three museum employees she worked with — Jordan Barnes, Karissa Francis, and Erika Wentworth.

Sep 1, 2023 | News Story

Kyle Viverito is an electrician and member of IBEW Local 3. Not too long ago, while on the job doing electrical work at an NHL arena, he started singing and it did not go unnoticed. He caught the attention of management, and the next thing he knew, he was performing there.

Aug 25, 2023 | News Story

This week, Teamsters voted by an overwhelming 86.3 percent to ratify the most historic collective bargaining agreement in the history of UPS.

Aug 25, 2023 | News Story

Entertainment industry workers, nurses, teachers, construction and building trades workers, retail workers, communications workers—every unionized industry in NYC seemed to be out on the street Tuesday for a National Day of Solidarity in support of striking WGA and SAG-AFTRA members.

Aug 25, 2023 | News Story

The actors, stage managers, bartenders and servers of Drunk Shakespeare in New York City, the longest-running of the productions nationwide, are now the fourth company of the theatrical franchise to unionize as Drunk Shakespeare United.

Aug 25, 2023 | News Story

Postdoctoral Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai voted to authorize their elected bargaining teams to call a strike if circumstances justify.