We have some good news: Together we pressured NEA to back off their threat to cut us off from our healthcare and other vital benefits. This is not a show of good faith from America’s largest union, but a show of strength for NEASO and our allies.
On July 7, NEASO members received a letter from NEA Executive Director Kim Anderson stating that “Your NEA Medical, Dental, and Healthcare FSA coverage under the Plan will end on July 31, 2024.” On July 18th, COBRA cancellation notices were sent to our homes. After weeks of organizing and several articles highlighting the harm these threats were causing our members, NEA finally committed to maintaining healthcare and other benefits throughout the lockout. This only happened because we raised over voices, shared our stories, and stood united for union values. We will continue to stand with each other until NEA ends this illegal, retaliatory lock out and agrees to the fair contract we deserve. The Fight Continues We’ve heard from an incredible number of educators, labor allies, and even a celebrity or two. Our support keeps growing because people know that our fight for a fair contract is bigger than just NEASO. As we keep saying, if the nation’s largest union won’t commit to treating its workers well, who will? We jointly entered a federal mediation process with NEA. The discussion between NEA and NEASO to end the lockout has now been moved into the mediation process. This process is confidential so we will share important updates as soon as we can. We remain committed to good faith bargaining and to fighting for a fair contract that reflects union values, respects our voices, and protects our ability to care for our families. We also believe in the values of the labor movement and will continue to work to make NEA the organization its members deserve. How You Can Help Help us continue the momentum by participating in any of the actions below! Organize a letter-writing campaign for NEA members: NEA members have already sent over 800 letters to Becky Pringle and Kim Anderson, asking for their support in ending the lockout and securing a fair contract for NEASO. Member voices matter! Please help us continue to apply pressure by sending a letter (if you are an NEA member) or by organizing a letter-writing party for NEA members in your networks. SEND A LETTER Join us on the picket line: If you are in the DMV area, we will be picketing outside the NEA Headquarters at 1201 16th St NW, Washington, DC, from 9 am - 1 pm ET tomorrow, August 2, and from 9 am - 4 pm ET every day next week. We’d love to see you! Solidarity and support on the line from NEA Members and affiliate staff keeps us in this fight and gives us the energy boost we need to fight another day! Please join us, bring a friend, and share this invitation to anyone you know who might want to walk with us in solidarity. Donate to Our Lockout Fund: We have had supporters from across the country generously donate to our lockout fund. Individuals can donate here. NEA Affiliates, State Staff Organizations, and other groups can send a check payable to NEASO with “Strike/Lockout Donation” on the memo line to: NEASO 6710 LAUREL BOWIE RD PO BOX 452 BOWIE, MD 20718 We appreciate your support! This has been an incredibly difficult past month but having this wonderful community behind us has helped keep us strong. We know that when our union, and our union’s allies, are united there is nothing that can divide us! In solidarity, The NEASO Contract Action Team  Date & Time: Jul 9, 2024 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) The National Labor Network for Ceasefire hosts a conversation with Palestinian trade union leaders. We’ll hear from representatives of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the General Union of Transport and Communications Workers on their struggle to live, work, and organize under devastating conditions of war and military occupation. We will also hear a special message from the General Union of Health Services Workers in Gaza. In addition, Workers in Palestine (UK) will report on their work to support world-wide international labor efforts to promote a ceasefire and permanent peace in Gaza. This will be a unique opportunity for trade unionists in the United States and Palestine to communicate directly with one another. Join us as we build solidarity with our union siblings in Palestine, strengthen our call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and work to forge a path for peace for working people everywhere. As an addition. If you want to participate in direct action next week, you can represent DC Labor on the morning of Tuesday July 9th! Let us stand in solidarity!  Take a look at this! If you are interested, please sign up with the link provided. Local 2 will be meeting at Pennsylvania Ave. and 3rd St near the department of Labor building at 9:30am. Click Here to Sign Up!  6/18/2024 In Celebration of Pride MonthIn celebration of this year's Pride Month, please take a moment and read about a wonderful union member, who is actively making changes to our world for the better. Click Here  -Fifteen (15) scholarships will be awarded on the basis of at least one (1) per region. -Applications are selected on a first come, first served basis. -Applications are open to children (between ages 13 and 16 only) of OPEIU members in good standing or associate members, all of whom must meet the eligibility requirements and comply with the Rules and Regulations as established by the OPEIU Executive Board. -Each scholarship has a total maximum value of $2,200.00. Fifteen (15) scholarships will be awarded on the basis of at least one (1) per region. - Applications are selected on a first come, first served basis. - Applications are open to children (between ages 13 and 16 only) of OPEIU members in good standing or associate members, all of whom must meet the eligibility requirements and comply with the Rules and Regulations as established by the OPEIU Executive Board. - Each scholarship has a total maximum value of $2,200.00.  4/2/2024 Crisis in Gaza DiscussionRegister for a Local 2 Special Event: Crisis in Gaza Discussion Please join us for this Open Discussion on the Crisis in Gaza. NOTE: This was originally scheduled for April 9th, but in consideration of our Muslim members who will be celebrating the end of Ramadan, we have changed the date. April 10th at 6:00pm-7:00pm  2/22/2024 We're Hiring a Staff Representative!
1/26/2024 John Kelly Labor Studies & Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarships Now Accepting ApplicationsOPEIU Scholarships are a great benefit for OPEIU members and their families. All rules and regulations can be found in the documents below. The deadline for the John Kelly and Howard Coughlin scholarships is March 29, 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.opeiu.org/MemberResources/UnionBenefits/OPEIUMembershipBenefits.aspx
The landmark new contract follows months of tireless advocacy from tens of thousands of frontline healthcare workers, including a three-day unfair labor practice strike in early October. A tentative agreement was reached on October 13 following Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su’s engagement to help Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions successfully bridge the gap on key issues.
“This is more than a contract – it signals a new day for frontline healthcare workers and for patient safety across Kaiser facilities,” said Angelica Mateo, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Clinics. “When healthcare workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fight for our patients and our jobs, we can win.” Crucially, the new contract contains strong commitments on wages, hiring, and training that will allow Kaiser Permanente to recruit and retain experienced professionals and improve patient care. Contract terms include:
“Tens of thousands of healthcare workers have been fighting with one goal in mind: to finally have the resources they need to keep patients safe. Today, we celebrate a huge step forward in addressing persistent staffing problems,” said Caroline Lucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. “This new contract is not only a victory for Kaiser’s patients and employees, but for all frontline healthcare workers and those who rely on them in our moments of need. When healthcare workers win, we all win.” The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions represents 85,000 Kaiser healthcare workers in seven states and the District of Columbia. In April, the Coalition began its national bargaining process ahead of the September 30th contract expiration. The Coalition and Kaiser Permanente had last negotiated a contract in 2019 before healthcare workers found themselves on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic that has worsened working conditions and exacerbated a healthcare staffing crisis. From Wednesday, October 4 to Saturday, October 7, 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers held an unfair labor practice strike. The actions, led by workers across multiple states and in Washington, D.C., constituted the largest strike of healthcare workers in U.S. history. On October 9, Coalition unions issued a second 10-day notice for a strike that would have commenced on November 1 and included an additional 3,000 healthcare workers in Seattle but was withdrawn upon the tentative agreement. “Frontline healthcare workers across states, facilities, and professions have shown the world what is possible through unity,” said Dave Regan, President of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). “We want to express our profound gratitude to Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su and the Biden administration for their support of workers' right to bargain collectively and their efforts to help reach an agreement that addresses the staffing challenges facing healthcare workers and their patients.”  After our historic three-day strike, we won a strong new agreement:
Click the document below for more information and instructions on how to vote to approve the contract.  
 Kaiser members: come out to cast your vote to authorize a strike and show KP how united the Mid-Atlantic States region is! Click the document below to see the vote schedule and where we are going to be. |
AuthorOPEIU Local 2 is a labor union supporting over 8,000 professional workers in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We represent staff members across a number of sectors, including healthcare, non-profit, and more. Archives
October 2024
CategoriesAll Action Community Change Education Committee Kaiser Permanente LGBTQIA Committee Member Benefits Member Committees New Unions And Contract Wins! Non Profit Political Education Committee Social Justice Committee Women's Committee |
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