Nyon, Switzerland – June 6, 2020 – In light of the major disruptions that the coronavirus has caused for working people around the world, UNI Global Union has launched a new survey seeking feedback on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected work-life balance for all members of society, and women and families in particular.

“The coronavirus pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on working women. Most of the world’s precarious and informal jobs are held by women, a situation that exacerbates their vulnerability in times of crisis,” says UNI. “Women are also overrepresented in the service industry, where protections like paid family leave, paid sick leave, and adequate health and safety measures are typically lacking.”

UNI is therefore asking union members, their family members, and community allies across the globe to help the labour movement better understand these impacts by taking UNI’s survey on work-life balance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that it is a disruptive time for workers and their families, as work and home life are now under one roof for many,” says Debora De Angelis, Ontario Regional Director for UFCW Canada and Chair of the UFCW Women and Gender Equity Committee.

“The global outbreak of the coronavirus has resulted in an increased workload for women, as they are often expected to be caregivers while also juggling paid and domestic work, and this is putting additional stress on families,” she adds. “We are encouraging UFCW members, activists, and allies to take the UNI survey to help the labour movement gain a clearer picture of how COVID-19 is affecting working families, who is being impacted the most, and what steps we can take to assist workers and their families coming out of this pandemic.” 

The survey is open to anyone who is interested in completing it. All responses are private and confidential, and they will not be shared with anyone. To access the UNI Global Union survey on work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.  

As Canada’s leading union, UFCW is fully committed to achieving gender equity and ensuring that our union remains open, inclusive, and welcoming to working women. To learn more about UFCW Canada’s work to advance women’s rights, visit our union’s Women and Gender Equity page.