OPEIU is pleased to announce the introduction of a new membership benefit, the OPEIU Low-Cost Degree Program.

OPEIU members and their families can now get their bachelor’s degree for much less through the new OPEIU Low-Cost Degree Program. OPEIU has partnered with Central State University, a public college near Dayton, Ohio, to bring members and their families an online bachelor’s degree in business administration or teacher education (Pre-K to 5th grade) for no more than $4,500 out-of-pocket per year for a full-time student, often significantly less. These costs include all tuition, fees and e-textbooks.

Washington, D.C. – Union Plus recently awarded $170,000 in scholarships to 108 students representing 34 unions, including one winner representing the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college, and trade or technical school students from 31 states plus the District of Columbia. The OPEIU winner is:

• Zachary Rambo of Ovid, Michigan. Rambo, whose mother, Dianna Rambo, is a member of OPEIU Local 459, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

One week ago, voters across the nation cast their ballots and ushered into office more than 300 union members, building more power for working people by adding to the 984 union members elected during last year’s midterm elections. Today, Nov. 12, 2019, is National Run for Office Day. On this day – and all days – OPEIU enthusiastically encourages working people, unionized or not, to build a future worth fighting for by running for office.

(Click here to visit the AFL-CIO’s new website, which tracks the successes of working people on the ballot across the nation.)

In historic numbers, nonprofit employees throughout the country have chosen to come together and form a union with OPEIU. They join the growing trend of employees at nonprofit organizations unionizing to gain a say in their organization, increase transparency and raise workplace standards.

The past few months have seen unprecedented growth by our local unions. In one week alone, more than 420 employees at the National Endowment for Democracy, YouthCare, and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank chose to unionize with OPEIU. Click "read more" to see their stories.

This week, the U.S. Senate has the opportunity to protect more than one million retirees’ pensions by voting YES on S.2254, the Butch Lewis Act – but only if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell brings it to the floor for a vote.

Working people took money out of their paychecks for decades to ensure they have a dignified retirement, but without a floor vote on the Butch Lewis Act, those sacrifices might have been made in vain.

Time is running out. Contact your senator today and tell them to urge Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the Butch Lewis Act. Find out how to contact your senator by clicking this link. Read the full text of the bill here.

Brooklyn, New York [Oct. 3, 2019] – Kickstarter management has refused its employees’ request for voluntary recognition of their union with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, AFL-CIO, weeks after firing employees in response to their support for the union effort, a violation of longstanding U.S. labor law.

On Wednesday, Kickstarter United (KSRU) members approached management to ask for voluntary recognition of their union after a months-long campaign to organize employees at the crowdfunding company. Kickstarter CEO Aziz Hasan responded with an email to staff refusing the request for recognition, saying the company instead “supports” an NLRB election – a process notoriously skewed in favor of employers and against employees.

“It’s disappointing to see our leadership team publicly refuse, again, to recognize the majority support that Kickstarter United has built,” said a KSRU spokesperson. “Voluntarily recognizing our union is what’s best for the organization. It provides an opportunity to rebuild the trust our leaders’ actions have eroded with our creator and backer community. It validates the democratic process that is the signing of a petition to demand a union.