New York, N.Y. (May 1, 2020) – The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 members at Kickstarter voted tonight to ratify a lay-off agreement with the crowdfunding company after CEO Aziz Hasan announced sweeping layoffs of up to 45 percent of employees.

The agreement won by Kickstarter United (KSRU) members outlines a range of procedures negotiated by the elected bargaining committee to help members impacted by layoffs, including:

•  Four months of severance pay for all laid-off employees;
• Four months of continued healthcare coverage for employees earning more than $110,001;
• Six months of continued healthcare coverage for employees earning $110,001 or less;
• Release from non-compete agreement upon accepting severance; and
• Recall rights of one year for members to return to any forthcoming job opening within their “classification,” and a number of other provisions. 

In Response to COVID-19 Pandemic:
OPEIU Members and Families Can Complete Bachelor's Degree
for Free This Summer

Because of the current economic and health uncertainty facing many of our members, your union is making it possible for all students who enroll through the OPEIU Low-Cost Degree Program at Central State University this summer to complete their degree with no out-of-pocket costs.

OPEIU members who enroll in the term beginning June 22 can do so under the same terms as the OPEIU Free College Program. All new and continuing students who are enrolled this summer will be eligible for a Free College last-dollar scholarship, which allows students to complete their degree (through graduation) with no out-of-pocket costs for tuition, fees or e-books. This represents a savings of more than $9,000.

We hear you: This is a tough time for parents and families who have school-age kids. With schools closed, some for the remainder of the year, families are learning how to support students’ distance learning and partner with their teachers and school staff while also juggling work and other responsibilities.

But it can be really hard. And that’s why the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the AFL-CIO are partnering to provide union families with helpful lessons and tools for kids in pre-K through 12th grade who are now learning at home and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. We’d like to share these resources with you. We hope they’re helpful. (And please note, these resources are intended to supplement what your child’s teacher or school has already provided.)

(WXYZ) — Denied hazard pay while being forced to ration personal protective equipment, frontline health workers at McLaren Hospitals say company executives should sacrifice more than 2% in salary cuts.

Last week, McLaren announced layoffs for up to 20 operating and recovery room nurses and cut back hours for many of its doctors and physicians assistants.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to jeopardize the well-being of our sisters and brothers bravely working on the frontlines, we owe it to those who came before us and to those who will come after us to demand that every working person in the United States has the right to come home after work.

Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act a half-century ago, but its goal – to ensure a safe workplace for every U.S. worker – is still far from reality. Union members and our allies continue to fight each day to realize that promise, but as working people throughout the nation know, the struggle is far from over.

This April 28, OPEIU invites you to join us in observing Workers Memorial Day to remember and honor our friends, family, neighbors and colleagues killed or injured on the job. This remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice also serves as a renewal of OPEIU’s commitment to ensuring workplace safety for every person in the U.S.

Because of the current economic and health uncertainty facing many of our members, your union is making it possible for all students who enroll through the OPEIU Low-Cost Degree Program at Central State University this summer to complete their degree with no out-of-pocket costs.

OPEIU members who enroll in the term beginning May 18 can do so under the same terms as the OPEIU Free College Program. All new and continuing students who are enrolled this summer will be eligible for a Free College last-dollar scholarship, which allows students to complete their degree (through graduation) with no out-of-pocket costs for tuition, fees or e-books. This represents a savings of more than $9,000.

Students can finish their teacher education or business administration bachelor’s degree affordably and safely. You must have earned an associate degree or have at least 60 credits in either field to be eligible. And remember, if you haven't earned your associate degree you can do so as always for NO COST through the OPEIU Free College Program.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced an interim enforcement response plan for the coronavirus pandemic. The response plan provides instructions and guidance to OSHA Area Offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling coronavirus-related complaints, referrals, and severe illness reports.

During the coronavirus outbreak, OSHA Area Offices will utilize their inspection resources to fulfill mission essential functions and protect workers exposed to the disease. The response plan contains interim procedures that allow flexibility and discretion for field offices to maximize OSHA’s impact in securing safe workplaces in this evolving environment.

“OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of America’s workers during this challenging time in our nation’s history,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt said. “Today’s guidance outlines commonsense procedures for investigating complaints related to the coronavirus, while also ensuring the safety of workers, employers, and inspectors.”