When it comes to protecting workers’ ability to care for their families, union membership is a big boost, a new study confirms. It’s yet another reason why in this tough economy we need to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain through the Employee Free Choice Act. “Family-Friendly Workplaces: Do Unions Make a Difference?” was written by Jenifer MacGillvary of the Labor Center at the University of California-Berkeley and Netsy Firestein of the Labor Project for Working Families. Examining issues of work-life balance, paid leave and health benefits, MacGillvary and Firestein conclude: Many (perhaps most) American workers find their “work-life” to be out of balance. Yet as has been the case with virtually all other aspects of employment, labor unions are leading the way in setting new standards. Unionized workers receive more generous family-friendly benefits than their non-unionized counterparts. continue reading