On June 19, 1865, the Union Army announced in Galveston, Texas, then a sparsely populated state, that all enslaved people were to be liberated, two years after Lincoln delivered his Emancipation Proclamation.

One hundred and fifty-five years later, on the anniversary of that fateful day, Juneteenth is celebrated nationwide in what is believed to be the oldest African-American holiday. OPEIU joins this national celebration and remembrance of black history, black culture, black struggle, and black progress.

This Juneteenth also serves as an opportunity to remember our black brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings who today are still working, without choice, within the U.S. prison system. Hundreds of companies in the U.S. produce their products on the backs of underpaid workers in our nation's broken prison system, populated through our nation's broken criminal justice system that seems to criminalize blackness at every step of the way.

In celebrating Juneteenth this year, OPEIU recommits itself to the long and difficult struggle for black equality, black empowerment, and black freedom from a set of systems and institutions – ranging from policing and employment discrimination to profit-based healthcare and the intentional defunding of social programs – built specifically to benefit the few at the expense of many.

Date: June 18, 2020

The following statement was made by OPEIU President Richard Lanigan in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the rights of DACA recipients in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California.

The Supreme Court’s ruling today is a landmark victory for a group of hardworking young people who deserve to live and work without fear of deportation or repression. Though OPEIU celebrates this milestone victory, there is more work to be done to fully win justice for DREAMers. 

We must now shift our focus to ensuring DREAMers can become U.S. citizens and fully take part in the civic life of the country they’ve called home since childhood. Many of these young people, ninety percent of whom are employed, often pay more in taxes and contribute more to our society than their employers do. Nearly 30,000 nationwide worked on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while being threatened with deportation by the Trump administration.

Though DACA recipients were narrowly delivered some justice today by the Supreme Court, OPEIU is committed to working toward a more just future where DREAMers can call themselves U.S. citizens.

Date: April 9, 2020

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program. Full details, rules and applications can be found at OPEIU.org under the Member Resources/Union Benefits link, as well as on the OPEIU app*.

OPEIU will provide five awards of $2,500 to OPEIU members who have at least $10,000 in student debt and are able to prove their account is current. A member can be awarded only once in a lifetime, and must have completed an associate or undergraduate degree.

The deadline is June 30, 2020. Visit OPEIU.org to apply today!

*Download the free OPEIU app for iPhones at the App Store and for Android devices at Google Play by searching OPEIU.

Date: April 2, 2020

Updated: March 31, 2020

SCHOLARSHIPS

NEW Application Deadline is May 31, 2020

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 OPEIU educational scholarships. All members are encouraged to apply. Full details, rules and applications can be found by clicking on the links below. Here is a listing of the scholarship opportunities:

• Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarship for OPEIU members and dependents 
• John Kelly Labor Studies Scholarship for OPEIU members who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in labor studies, industrial relations and union leadership and administration  
• Romeo Corbeil/Gilles Beauregard Memorial summer camp, held July 19 -24, 2020, at the University of Missouri Campus, Columbia, Missouri. This scholarship is available for children between the ages of 13-16.

All completed and signed applications must be received at the Secretary-Treasurer's office of the International Union, P.O. Box 1761 New York, NY 10113, no later than May 31, 2020. 

Date: March 19, 2020

Sisters and Brothers:

As the United States and nations throughout the globe are facing concerns related to the new coronavirus known as COVID-19, I feel it's important to speak directly to all OPEIU members and share the following information.

OPEIU is taking very seriously this pandemic and its impact on our members and the industries in which they work. We are working with our local leaders throughout the country to put in place protocols to ensure we best serve our members and your needs during this crisis. We are also following directives given to businesses and organizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). OPEIU staff and leadership have taken several steps to limit potential exposure, including instituting a travel ban and restrictions according to potential geographic threat levels, restrictions on modes of transportation, and the instituting of a remote work policy when possible.

We also are currently seeking resources to help our members deal with pressing financial concerns such as credit counseling, and mortgage and rent relief and will provide those resources on our website in the very near future.

We also will be pressing both federal and state governments to adopt measures that protect the health and safety, as well as the financial security of working people, including paid sick leave. And, as a union representing more than 14,000 nurses and healthcare professionals, we are working with the OPEIU Nurses Council (ONC) to push for measures that protect the health of those working on the front lines of our healthcare system.

For now, there are a number of steps that everyone can take to keep yourself safe and help stop the spread of the virus, including these basic hygiene practices recommended by the CDC:

• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or cloth when you sneeze or cough, or use your elbow. Dispose of the tissue immediately.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

Also, please follow all guidelines issued by your state and local governments, particularly in the nation's hot spots, such as New York, Washington state and California.

OPEIU has posted a number of resources on our website at OPEIU.org under the COVID-19 section. Included are current recommendations of the CDC and WHO. We will continue to update this information as it becomes available.

Thank you all for the caution you're showing to keep yourself, families and co-workers safe during this very difficult and uncertain time. Your union is standing beside you and your family, and is working to protect you and our nation's economy.

In solidarity,

Richard Lanigan
President

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Date: March 13, 2020

OPEIU Local 537 is taking measures to ensure the safety of our members. As a result, we have contacted our signature employers and have canceled our General Membership meeting due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We want our members to work in a healthy and safe environment. A copy of the memo located to the left has been emailed to you.

Kaiser Permanente has provided an informational flyer, located on this website, with recommendations to help you protect yourself and your family. 

Our members who receive healthcare benefits from Kaiser Permanente now have an additional benefit.  Active&Fit Direct is a program which gives members access to over 9,000 fitness centers for a membership fee of just $25.00 per month.  To enroll, visit American Specialty Health's ChooseHealthy site for Kaiser Permanente members.  Click on any of the Active&Fit information tiles to find a fitness center near you.  

To learn more, call 877-335-2746.

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