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 9, 2020

Labor Films: Celebrating Solidarity in Self-Isolation

As we continue to practice social distancing measures to protect ourselves and others, there has never been a better time to reflect on the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before us. OPEIU has put together a short and certainly non-exhaustive list of labor films worth watching as we weather this crisis together.

Need more? The United Association for Labor Education has compiled a comprehensive list of films on labor, work and an array of societal struggles for equity and equality. Check it out here.

Date: April 6, 2020
Each spring, the labor movement takes time to remember and honor workers who have been injured or killed on the job. This year, Workers’ Memorial Day will take place on Tuesday, April 28, and will take on added importance as the world grapples with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. While everyone is affected by the crisis, working people — particularly our healthcare workers and other vital service industry workers — are on the frontline. Click here to obtain more information about Workers' Memorial Day. 

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.

Get Connected!
Download the OPEIU App Today

The new OPEIU app is a great way to stay connected to your union, learn more about your membership benefits, find links to OPEIU's social media networks, and much more.  Available for free download for iPhones at the App Store and for Android devices at Google Play by searching OPEIU.  Click on the Store links to get the apps.