Organizing Tools
Articles, Studies & Reports
An Economy that Puts Families First: Expanding the Social Contract to Include Family Care 
An Economic Policy Institute briefing paper by Heidi Hartmann, Ariane Hegeswich, Vicky Lovell.
AFT Guide on Bargaining for Family Issues
This resource guide titled Bargaining for Family Issues was produced by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to provide locals bargaining tools on issues such as child care, family leave, flexible work options, etc. The guide includes current, important family issues, background information on these issues and sample contract language to be used as a model. For more information, call Connie Cordovilla at (202) 879-4490 or email ccordovi@aft.org.
ATU Local 192 & AC Transit Shift into Gear
A look at the new family care program negotiated by ATU Local 192 for transit workers in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California. Written for the California Public Employee Relations Journal, April 2001.
Bargaining for Families
An article on bargaining strategies unions have used to provide child care for their members. This article profiles HUCTW, the union representing Harvard University clerical and technical workers, and HERE Local 2, representing San Francisco hotel workers. Published in the New Labor Forum (Spring 1998).
To order, contact:
Queens College Labor Resource Center
25 West 43rd St., 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 827-0200
Challenging Times - Innovative Ways of Organizing Working Time: The Role of Unions
A report based on the proceedings of a conference organized by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) held in London, UK in 2005.
Child Care Choices for Working Families
This report examines the Child Care Choices of Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union Local 2 Members Working in San Francisco's Hospitality Industry. Written by the Labor Project for Working Families and the CA Child Care Resource & Referral Network.
Flexible Work Arrangements: The Fact Sheet
A fact sheet on flexibility in the workplace put together by the campaign for Workplace Flexibility 2010. Georgetown University Law Center (2006).
Flexible Work for Strong Families
This report outlines a plan to expand opportunities for working parents to control their work hours, spend more time raising their kids, and continually readjust the balance between work and family as their circumstances change.
Getting Organized: Unionizing Home-Based Child Care Providers
This report by the National Women’s Law Center shows how communities benefit when workers join unions. The report highlights three states where home-based child care providers have joined unions and signed a contract. The workers, in turn, used their political power to help their communities receive increased funding for child care and improved working conditions for providers.
Getting Punched: The Job and Family Clock
A study by the Center for Law and Social Policy on the importance of workplace flexibility.
I Knew I Could Do This Work
This report from the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) outlines strategies to promote women's voices and leadership in unions.
Labor's Participation in Work-Family Issues: Successes and Obstacles
Drawing on research and work done by Lissa Bell and Lea Grundy, this paper examines the problems facing working families today and the strategies to shape new family-friendly policies and benefits.
This paper was commissioned by the Work, Family & Democracy Project to include in its report Learning from the Past - Looking to the Future, a report on the current climate of family leave in the United States.
For copies of the full report, contact:
Kurt Wuerker
The Johnson Foundation
33 East Four Mile Road
Racine, WI 53402
(262) 681-3328
kwuerker@johnsonfdn.org
Labor's Role in Addressing the Child Care Crisis
By Lea Grundy, Lissa Bell, and Netsy Firestein
This paper was funded by the Foundation for Child Development to examine labor's role on child care issues. We interviewed top labor leaders about labor and child care issues and what it would take to make child care a higher priority for the labor movement. The paper outlines several models for more labor involvement in child care.
Making Work “Work”: New Ideas from the Winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
This report compiles case studies that highlight innovative business practices of small, medium and large employers who realize that the traditional 9 to 5 workplace doesn’t always work best in the 21st Century.
The Motherhood Manifesto
By Joan Blades and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner
This book explores what it means to be a mother in America today through heartfelt stories of women who are discriminated against simply because they are mothers. Netsy Firestein, Executive Director of the Labor Project for Working Families, authored a section in this book on how unions are helping working families address some of the issues raised in the Motherhood Manifesto.
No-Vacation Nation
This report from the Center for Economic Policy and Research reviewed international vacation and holiday laws and found that the United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers any paid vacation or holidays.
One Sick Child Away from Being Fired: When “Opting Out” is Not an Option
A review by WorkLife Law of published arbitrations in which unions argued that employees were improperly punished due to family responsibilities.
Out of the Box Summary - New Approaches to Organizing In the Child Care Industry
by Dan Bellm
Proceedings from a conference examining new and innovative ways to organize child care workers, and linking child care policy to organizing.
Parental Leave in New Zealand 2005/2006 Evaluation
Conducted by the Department of Labour this evaluation examines the effectiveness of New Zealand’s parental leave legislation.
Promoting Children’s Well-Being: The Role of Workplace Flexibility
A study by the campaign for Workplace Flexibility 2010 showing the social benefits of flexibility in the workplace. Georgetown University Law Center (2006).
Quality Child Care: A Guide for Working Parents
Roots of Decline: How Government Policy Has De-Educated Teachers of Young Children
This report by Dan Bellm and Marcy Whitebook analyzes labor trends for the early care and education workforce over the past 25 years - notably, an overall decrease in educational qualifications, and persistent wage stagnation - in the light of federal and state policy, and makes a series of recommendations for reversing these downward trends.
The Sex of Class: Women Transforming American Labor
Netsy Firestein, Executive Director, and former staffer Nikki Dones of the Labor Project for Working Families co-authored a chapter in this book edited by Dorothy Sue Cobble, Cornell University Press. This collection of essays describes why class inequalities are becoming larger and how women are taking a larger role in unions, the women’s and working class movements.
The Work Family Equity Index: How Does the United States Measure Up?
This study shows that U.S. policies to ensure decent working conditions for families still lag dramatically behind those of all high-income countries and many middle- and low-income countries.
Time is of the Essence: New Scheduling Options for Unionized Employees
A report by Work in America Institute and the Labor Project for Working Families that explores the desirability and feasibility of providing unionized employees new ways to reduce their work schedules.
Unions and Child Care
An article on the role labor unions have played in the lives of working families, specifically in providing child care through collective bargaining. Includes background information on women in the workforce and the need for child care around the clock. Published in the California Public Employee Relations journal (June 1998).
Valuing Good Health in California: The Costs and Benefits of the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act of 2008
This study by Vicky Lovell at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research uses data collected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Health and Human Services, California Employment Development Department and US Census Bureau to evaluate the likely impact of California’s paid sick days legislation AB 2716. The study finds that AB 2716 will have real benefits for both employers and working families in California.
Women Organizing Women: How Do We Rock The Boat Without Getting Thrown Overboard
Recommendations by 19 highly experienced women organizers on making union organizing jobs more attractive to women.
Work and Family and Labor/Management Collaboration
A paper looking at joint labor/management initiatives around work and family issues. This paper briefly outlines the history of labor/management collaboration in the U.S. and looks at how the trend toward such cooperation has led to joint initiatives on work/family issues. It provides seven case studies from the United States and Canada.
For more information contact:
Jill Kassner-Lotto
Work, Family and the Labor Movement
This report reviews the labor movement’s approach to work and family issues, and its legislative and negotiating strategies for helping American workers balance home and work.
Workplace Flexibility for Low Wage Workers
A study by Corporate Voices for Working Families shows that flexible workplace schedules and policies help enhance the well-being and productivity of lower wage workers.
