The issue of breastfeeding and the workplace is certainly a hot topic
in the media as well as on lactnet. I think that the next step is to
begin to think about the role of unions in this mix. While strides are
being made to help women nurse after they return to work, it is still
VERY difficult for women who work in manufacturing and in retail sales
(not to mention teachers, secretaries etc,) to arrange to pump. THese are
also women for whom unpaid breaks are more difficult to arrange and the
loss of income is noticeable.
  I am beginning to do some workin this area. Does anyone have any
knowledge of or experience with unions that have negotiated breastfeeding/
pumping breaks into contracts?  Any guidance in this area would be
helpful.
  Please e-mail me privately since I'll be nomail on and off over the
next couple ofweeks.
  Thanks,
   Naomi Bar-Yam PhD