Promoting a worker's right to breastfeed: Unique collaborations between labor unions and a state breastfeeding coalition

Alaska has the highest breastfeeding initiation rates in the country. After 6 and 12 months breastfeeding rates drop dramatically. Returning to work has been identified as one factor that leads to the breastfeeding cessation. The Alaska Breastfeeding Coalition has partnered with labor organizations to advance legislation establishing the right to breastfeed and work. Labor unions see that the legislation would protect the rights of their members and contain health care costs. Breastmilk is the optimal food for infants. As a result breast-fed infants use fewer health care services and are healthier than formula-fed infants. Promoting breastfeeding and supporting the breastfeeding worker lowers medical costs to health plans. Using the economic case for breastfeeding, the Alaska Breastfeeding Coalition has garnered the support of several Alaskan unions in the promotion of a woman's right to breastfeed and work. Unions have developed breastfeeding friendly benefits, established joint employer and employee committees to develop workplace lactation programs, and are supporting legislation that would establish a designated time and place to express breastmilk or breastfeed at work.