Unions have a key role to play in protecting their pregnant and postpartum workers. See the model language below for examples that can be used in your agreements. For assistance in finalizing the language for your contract, you can contact our WorkLife Law attorneys at [email protected].
Accommodating Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Related Medical Conditions
Employers are required under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the laws of many states to accommodate pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. In fact, nearly all of the employer obligations below are already required by federal law. Negotiating to include this language in your collective bargaining agreement is still important for ensuring employers cannot rely on the contract to escape their legal obligations under federal employment law, as well as to make these protections more visible to union representatives and members.
To learn more about how these model provisions overlap with federal law, or to seek assistance in finalizing language for your contract, please contact our team at [email protected].
Paid Lactation Breaks for Hourly Workers
Employers are required under the federal PUMP Act, the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and the laws of many states to provide reasonable break time, private non-bathroom space, and other reasonable accommodations to lactating workers for expressing (pumping) milk and breastfeeding. In addition to providing lactation breaks and space as required by law, you may wish to require these breaks be paid. Paid lactation breaks ensure workers at all income levels can meet their lactation health needs without losing income. Several states require that lactation breaks be paid.
The contractual language can be adopted to ensure your members do not lose income when taking breaks to meet their lactation health needs. To seek assistance in finalizing language for your contract, please contact our team at [email protected].
Check out our related pages:
- Pregnancy Accommodations
- Lactation Rights at Work: Are Pumping Breaks Paid or Unpaid?
- Lactation Break Time and Space Legal Requirements
Contact the Center for WorkLife Law’s free legal hotline to speak to a lawyer about your rights:
Email [email protected] or call (415) 703-8276.
