An open letter from frontline members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Healthcare Unions: We are dedicated Kaiser Permanente employees who are committed to making sure our patients receive safe, quality, compassionate care during the pandemic. As healthcare workers, we have always been essential, but now we have become absolutely critical to our nation’s response to the health crisis, and we take deep pride in our jobs.

These have been severely trying times as we have risked our lives and the lives of our families to come to work every day. We disinfect our facilities, process COVID-19 tests, take vital signs, administer respiratory treatments, fill prescriptions and do everything else to care for our patients.

OPEIU mourns the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For decades, Justice Ginsburg played a pivotal role in expanding the rights of working people, women and all those without a voice in the nation she recognized as tipped in favor of the already wealthy and powerful. Her lifetime of work will continue to serve as inspiration for us all, especially young women and men who rightly considered her a role model and inspiration.​

Save the date! Join the Women's Committee on October 8 at 6:30 PM for a discussion on prevention and awareness around breast cancer and domestic violence. Register to receive the Zoom link here. 

Register by mid-January, and you can complete your Bachelor's degree for free -- join this webinar on September 22 from 3-4 PM to learn more! ​Register here. 

After weeks of negotiations, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions (of which OPEIU is a member) successfully negotiated for the reinstatement of the childcare benefit, effective August 17 through December 19, 2020. The childcare benefit, originally set to expire in June 2020, has supported over 21,000 Coalition households as workers fight on the frontline of the pandemic. 

More than $1.5 trillion in federal funding is allocated yearly to communities for schools, roads, and hospitals. #GetCounted in the 2020 Census because it’s critical for your family and your community. Take the Census at www.my2020census.gov! #AAPI2020 #CountUsIn ​

As the pandemic continues to worsen across the US and the virtual reopening of many school is not far away, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente unions calls on Kaiser to reinstate the childcare benefit that has helped over 21,000 Coalition households. We therefore request to meet with Senior Leadership immediately to negotiate the swift reinstatement of the childcare benefit so that working parents at Kaiser Permanente can be there for our patients in need. Read the full letter below. 

Please join the DC Coalition of Black Trade Unionists in a Town Hall co-sponsored by the Black Coalition Against COVID and WPFW-FM on Thursday, July 16, 5-7:00 p.m.  The program will be broadcast on WPFW, Jazz and Justice Radio, 89.3 FM and live streamed on www.wpfwfm.org.
 
The topic  of this important Town Hall is Labor Cares About Defeating COVID.   The Town Hall will provide you with answers as we:

The OPEIU Local 2 Women's Committee is seeking input so that it can better meet the needs of Local 2 members. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey and provide your thoughts. 

**Submissions for this survey are now closed. Thank you all for contributing!

A message from our International: ​The House-passed Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is a solid first step toward real justice for Black Americans targeted by police brutality. Its provisions – including the banning of chokeholds and no-knock warrants, the creation of a national police misconduct database, and eliminating qualified immunity for law enforcement – are necessary and welcomed. Still, we must do more than simply change the way the law is enforced if we are truly invested in justice for Black Americans.

Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Join the OPEIU Local 2 Social Justice Committee to lead the labor movement's fight for racial and social justice. We are seeking a Committee Chairperson and active members. Contact our organizer Kelly at Krusso@opeiu-local2.org to express interest in membership.