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:

Dec 10, 2021 | News Story

The 30-member editorial staff at The Intercept, the investigative journalism digital news site, last night ratified its second union contract with the Writers Guild of

Dec 10, 2021 | News Story

Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) on strike against Kellogg’s in Battle Creek, Mich., Lancaster, Pa., Omaha, Neb. and Memphis, Tenn. have overwhelmingly voted to reject the tentative agreement.

Dec 10, 2021 | News Story

Workers at billionaire John Catsimatidis's United Metro Energy Corp have been on strike since April 19th.

Dec 10, 2021 | News Story

We have always known that reducing class size is integral to student achievement, teacher retention and equitable schools, but it’s now also become an issue of public health. We must learn from the pandemic and take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses in the future.

Dec 9, 2021 | News Story

The Workers United Education Program/CWE offers free English language and High School Equivalency classes (in English and Spanish) by Zoom.​​​

Classes began in September but with open enrollment members can join at any time.

Dec 3, 2021 | News Story

The BuzzFeed News Union has been bargaining its first contract for almost 2 years, but BuzzFeed still won't budge on critical issues like wages — all while preparing to go public and make executives even richer.

Dec 3, 2021 | News Story

Musicians deserve a fair contract!

Dec 3, 2021 | News Story

Rodolfo Mendez, Martir Zambrano and Jorge Ramirez

Dec 3, 2021 | News Story

Columbia student workers are still on strike in what is currently the largest such action in the country. Three thousand workers, including undergraduate and graduate teaching and research assistants at Columbia University, are now in the fifth week of their strike.

Dec 3, 2021 | News Story

On Monday, the Director of Region 10 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) formally issued a Decision and Direction of a Second Election, granting workers at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama a new election based on the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union’s (RWDSU) objections to Amazon’