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Adotio: nios Wn eneit fo Ne Parnt UNION NEVVS

PARENTS GET ADOPTION SUBSIDY The -Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers(HUCTW) won adopti.on subsidies of up to $5,,000 per child to offset the cost of adoption-related expenses, which can include legal fees, international travel, hospital and court costs. There is no limit to the number of children a member can adopt. Along with parents of new- borns, adoptive parents can get 4 weeks of paid parental first looked into adopting, there was leave (Full pay for members leave for the primary care-giver (usu- with 7 years of service; 70% ally the mother)," said Christina for members with less than Safiya Tobias-Nahi. "We let the union 7 years) and 1 3 weeks of know that for foreign adoption, both job-protected, unpaid leave. parents needed to be present. They (Harvard Union of Clerical and went back to the bargaining table and Technical Workers & Harvard got paternity and maternity leave. I see it as an equity issue - an expec- University) tant mother has maternitv leave as by Jenya Cassidy well as bonding leave. Adoption can FACULTY PARENTS GET hristina Safiya Tobias-Nahi and her husband Belkacem dreamed be just as lengthy a process." A SEMESTER OFF | ~~of a child for a time but found the costs According to the National adopting long pro- Adoption Infonrmation Clearinghouse, Full-time faculty members at ~~hibitive. In 1998, Belkacem and Christina started working at the of Massachusetts while adoption benefits have not kept University _ ~~Harvard University and learned about the union-negotiated. with more who become or pace maternity benefits, biological Assistance The were able to are starting to offer them. of a child Adoption Program. following year they adopt companies adoptive parents It can be a way to create good will under the age of five are eligi- a little boy, Saad All, from Morocco, Belkacem's native country. "Saad Ali was 6 months old when we held him for the first time. We wo'uld not-have w-ithout a high cost to the compan-y. ble for one semester of paid Monty Clemmer, Secretary Treasurer leave. The member must use been able to realize the dream of starting a family without the benefits of Teamsters, Local 1145 in St. Paul, any accrued sick leave during negotiated by the union,"1 said Christina. In 2002, the Nahis were able to- Minnesota, agrees: "We got Honeywell this time and apply for use the benefit again to adopt a second child, a little girl named Aya. to offer adoption assistance (up to FM LA to run concurrently. It's a benefit Christina and Belkacem are benefits as well. $3,000 per child). great If it becomes medically neces- negotiated adoption cost much members of the Harvard Union of CWA District I representing Verizon and it doesn't management sary to extend the leave, the - if we have members Clerical and Technical Workers employees recently increased adop- either 2,000 member can draw on the sick and 4 use the benefit this that's (HUCTW), a leader in fami- tion assistance from $5,000 to year, leave bank for more winning not a for the boost in paid days contract includ- $10,000. In addition to financial big expense off. ly-friendly language morale it the workers. (Massachusetts Society ing adoption benefits. The union is assistance, CWA locals have negotiat- gives People of ProfessorsIMA Teachers who don't use it feel more and part of a trend in the labor ed parental leave for adoption and pride & of rising connection to their and Association University movement: as more choose part-time work after birth or adop- workplace couples the who it can Massachusetts) to are ben- tion for a with full benefits. people do, well, adopt, unions negotiating year their lives." efits to help them with the process. "Our members really appreciate the change PARENTS STOP TENURE HUCTW has negotiated the following assistance with adoption," said CLOCK adoption benefits with Harvard: 4 Donna Dolan, CWA staff representa- Members of the California weeks paid parental leave for birth tive for District 1. "Often it's a lot more than assume Faculty Association can stop and adoptive parents; the ability to expensive people the tenure clock for any negotiate additional time for parental it will be. But, there is a growing which take leaves using vacation, personal or interest in adoption and we are com- year during they mitted to members who parental leave for a new child. unpaid time; and an adoption subsidy assisting Pare'nts of a newborn or of up to $5,000 per child to offset the want to start families." and want- adopted child are also eligible cost of adoption-related expenses. Couples single people Communications Workers of ing to adopt find that it is not only continued on page 2 America (CWA) has successfully expensive, it takes time. "When we m 0 m

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UNION NEWVS I , ol 0 continued from page 1 N...4 , ri for 30 days of paid parental leave. New parents must apply for parental leave within 60 Supporting Parents and Carers is the slogan for a major cam- "The aim ofthe days of the birth of the baby paign in 2005 for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied or the placement of an Workers (USDAW), Britain's fifth largest trade union. The union campaign IS quite adopted child in the home. (California Faculty Association set out to address the work/life balance for its 339,000 mem- simple: to put the & California State University bers. According to the union, their members told them loud and clear Board of Trustees) that balancing work and being a parent or caregiver is one of their main needs ofparents and concerns. Most USDAW members are shop workers - they also represent carers at the heart PARENTS WIN CHILD members in distribution, call centers, home shopping, food CARE LEAVE transport, of our chemicals and negotiating Teamsters Local 572 won child manufacturing, dairy process, pharmaceuticals. care leave for members with "Everyone is a carer, whether it be pay, paid family leave, childcare strategy and every young children. The leave is children, elderly parents or depend- arrangements that best benefit par- agreement we sign." unpaid and intended for the ent relatives," said John Hannett, ents and shift patterns that reflect care of children under the age General Secretary of the Union. the day-to-day uncertainty of caring John Hannett, of three. The maximum leave "The aim of the campaign is quite for others. On the political front General Secretary of the Union allowed is thirty-nine (39) cal- simple: to put the needs of parents they will be working closely with their endar months. Leave requests and carers at the heart of ou - nego- legislators to press for changes in the must be made at least 10 days tiating strategy and every agreement law that will make caregivers' lives before the leave takes we sign." easier. It will not be an easy cam- place. The leaders want to but the of and The is returned to a campaign paign, rights parents employee find out what for are now on the union in the same class. The parents, caregivers caregivers firmnly position parents and/or need For more details of the cam- covers a number of dependents agenda. contract from their union. Once they've dis- paign, go to http://www.usdaw.org.uk job classifications including cerned the needs of the member- accountants, bus dispatchers, ship, union negotiators will meet * Adaptedfrom press release - and data entry operators employers armed with the argu- USDAW website Supporting Parents; (International Brotherhood of ments for better maternity/paternity and Carers Campaign Teamsters Local 572 & Los Angeles Unified School District)

AIRLINE EMPLOYEES I 11 1 14 CAN JOB SHARE 0 Members of the Canadian - r 1"" , ri Auto Workers Locals l1990 and 2213 have the option to reduce their work hours by Kass sector would open the way under in a share OBy~ByJamie participating job labour in Canada is playing a significant role in the international trade deals for big-box with another coworker. The ~~~rganized commercial child care chains to set for a national, child care system. And it member must find the other ~~~movement non-profit up shop in Canada. must like Canada's child care advocates are the closest they've participant and both ~~~~looks For a child care 6 labour, system commit to the agreement for been to realizing their dream of a national system of early learning and is important for providing access months. Both members receive care. The Canadian government has promised $5 billion over five years for to working parents, especially full time benefits but vacation a national and to negotiate the system's framework with women, to quality, dependable and is pro-rated. (Canadian Auto program plans provincial and territorial governments in January 2005. affordable child care. Unions also Workers Local 1990, 2213 & Air believe that the system must be Canada) coast to coast. The coalition is writ- non-profit in order to better respond ing letters, lobbying at the provincial to the needs -of families, not the For more information on and federal levels and has launched bottom line. union contract language, a campaign to send toy building There is no doubt that Canada go to wwwM.laborproject.org blocks to the politicians along with a needs a national child care system. A message outlining the fundamentals recent report by the Organisation for of a - good system. Economic Development criticized the funded and Labor Family News is These fundamentals are: fragmented, poorly published quarterly by: * Public, sustained funding marginalized state of child care services in most of Canada, and Labor Project for * A Child Care Act guaranteeing recommended govern- Working Families progressive standards and the principles of ment policies and sustainable public 2521 Channing Way #5555 Advocates sent lawmakers building blocks quality, universality, accessibility, investments. For advocates, this Berkeley, CA 94720 to "spell out" the needfor public.funding developmental programming and only confirms what they've been Ph: 510-643-7088 inclusiveness for decades: Fax: 510-642-6432 But promises for a system have saying governments been made-and broken-twice in * Public accountability tied to con- must take the lead and act to solve lowfEberkeley. du the child care crisis in Canada. www.laborproject.orcg the last 20 years, and activists are crete implementation plans A For more information: www.child- Netsy Firestein, Editor taking nothing for granted. broad *Non-profit delivery coalition that includes child care been careadvocacy.ca. Editor Organized labour has Jenya Cassidy, Managing advocacy groups, unions, parents meeting with key politicians and Jamie Kass, Canadian Union of Designed by Mikko Design and providers has been working spearheading the campaign to make Postal Workzers, co-chairs the Child Printed by Operating non-stop to make sure the politi- care Care Advocacy Association of Canada's Local 3 national child non-profit. Engineers cians get the essentials right from The Canadian Union of Public Council ofAdvocates. Reprints Permitted With the start. Employees obtained a legal opinion Acknowledgement. Call for that failure to limit emailvrin Incredible mobilization is hap- showing expan- pening across the country from sion of the system to the non-profit

Labor Family NEWS v v

NW GOOD JOBS include work and family supports like quality child care, use of sick days to care for a family member, paid family leave and flexible work hours that the worker controls. Here are some FIRST STEPS to begin addressing these issues. _BUILD nGATHER nSTART A DEVELOP iSUPPORT INFORMATION VVWORK/FAMILY ]YOUR COMMITTEE STRATEGY *Find your allies *Review your current *Use your local union *Get work & family Talk informally to other contract structure to form a issues on the bargaining members. Who is having Whatfamily-friendly provi- committee agenda child care problems or cares sions do you already have? Include questions on the the committee for an elderly parent? Who Is there language onflexible * Diversify bargaining survey that don't needs time offfor a sick schedules orfamily leave or The committee should be rate these issues alongside family member? a dependent careflexible representative ofyour wages, healthcare, pensions, spending plan? Make sure membership i.e. men and etc. Work &Jamily issues * Contact the community members kEnow about the women, parents ofyoung should be part of the union's services liaison at your provisions. children, members taking overall agendafor good labor council care of elders, gays and jobs. Then propose specific Can they assist you? Have *Find out what other lesbians, various ethnic contract language. other union locals addressed unions have done groups, and single people. similar issues? What challenges were their *Work with the union to members facing? How did *Conduct a survey promote family-friendly *Find a champion they address the issues? A survey can identify the laws in your state Is there a leader in the union What obstacles did they challenges parents and adult Support local coalitions with small children or an face? Are there possibilities caregiversface every day. working on family leave or q,oin,qparpnt t ey tabe canre to collalborate iAlith them? Ask about absenteeism, child carefunding. Get of? Will they commit to lateness, sicke time, etc your union and state addressing these issues? *Identify the resources in due to work andfamily federation to sponsor or your community responsibilities. support legislationfor ily policies. X $0. I ~~ ~ Gather information on local friendly resources such as child care *Set achievable goals resource & referral agencies A long-term goal might be I and department on aging. building a child care center. Make the information But a short-term goal is to aT_( available to your members. get members hooked up with a child care referral service * Research family-friendly in the community. laws work/fam~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:?4400ilyavilbli ~F * Develop solutions early Februaty.Contact~~~~~~~: _~~~~~ Are you covered by the usfomoreinformationA Family and Medical Think outside the box. For Leave Act? Can you take example, collaborate with unpaid time offfor school other unions to encourage activities? child care centers to extend their hours to accommodate your hours of worlk.

.M

kher lot excetker4 reeremc" . from the Staff 11 of the Labor Project

Reprinted with special permission, King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Labor FamilyNEWS RIesources: Helping America's available at http://www.newamerica. Working Parents: net/Download_DocslpdfslDoc_File_2 Bush Pushes Nevv Overtime Rules "What Lessons Can 059_1.pdf Setback for We Learn from Europe The Sloan Work Through: WVorking and Canada?" and Family Research Families" Paychecks This paper, byJanet C. Gornick and Network Newsletter It was a long and hard fight but on November 18th) facing a presidential Marcia K. Meyers, addresses several The Network News is now available veto threat, Republican members of Congress removed important overtime myths about international work/ online. The Sloan Work and Family pay protections from final 2005 spending bills. family policies and makes a clear Research Network, with the support argument for applying international of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation What this means: Against the will of a majority of both houses of Bush has forced new policy lessons in the United States. and Boston College, serves a global Congress, through overtime eligibility rules under the The U.S. lags far behind other community of individuals interested Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) that affect the overtime pay rights of mil- nations on paid family leave, work- in work and family research by lions of workers. Example: Many administrative employees, team leaders, ing time regulations, and affordable providing resources and helping employees with even minimal supervisory responsibilities (such as working child care. When it comes to negoti- build the work/family community. foremen) employees with computer-related duties, employees who perform ating work and family, parents in the Upcoming issues of The Network some sales work outside the office, certain workers with creative control or U.S. have a much narrower range of News will focus on: Careers, Older any decision-making duties, and many others- will no longer qualify for options than parents living else- Workers, Generation X and Genera- overtime. The fight to protect workers' overtime rights will continue "Cin where. The new report provides tionY Employees. For more infor- state legislatures, the courts and in Congress." compelling data and a number of mation about the Sloan Work and Tofind out ifyou are onze of the newly "exempt"from receiving overtime pay policy proposals to address the Family Research Network go to: under the Bush administration rules, go to http://www.workingamerica.org/ growing pressures on working http://www. b c .edu/bc_org/avp/ issues/ot_quiz.cfm parents. A summary issue brief is wfnetworklabout.html

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