#opeiu

There’s a link below to write President and CEO Jamie Clark and Board of Directors Chair Mark Caylor to urge them to accept the union’s demands to end the strike, along with links to the union’s Twitter and website for more information and updates. If you don’t want to write a letter yourself, there’s one prefilled for you to sign. If you do write something, please be professional and respectful. Nothing will be accomplished through harsh or disrespectful language. Remember, the goal is to get Defenders leadership to accept the demands and you catch more flies with honey than vinegar!

People in the D.C. area may also join the picket virtually or in person at the Defenders of Wildlife office in Washington, D.C. (address: 1130 17th Street NW. Be careful! It’s really hot outside!). If you can donate to Defenders of Wildlife, you can donate and put “Union Staff” in the honoree name field. More information about the strike and how to support the union is available at their website.

Delighted to welcome my fellows to OPEIU.

Tufts University Resident Assistants (RAs) authorized a strike earlier this week in response to Tufts’ failure to make any offer for compensation in the form of a stipend. RAs at Tufts are currently only compensated with housing- they need to live on campus to do their jobs- but no stipend or wages during the semester or the three weeks of unpaid training they must attend in early august before other students are on campus. They also do not receive a meal plan.

Tufts recently sent an email communication to university students about Union activity on campus, failing to mention their bad faith attempt at bargaining over the past six months, and ending with a threat against potential strikers.

This portion of the email reads, “We anticipate everyone involved will respect our community values and one another’s right to enjoy the new semester without disruption. While we support the units’ engagement with our campus, any actions or activities that create a hostile campus environment, endanger public safety, or violate our Student Code of Conduct will be addressed by the appropriate members of our staff.”

This is a clear threat of conduct proceedings and potential expulsion against student workers who have a legally protected right to strike without retaliation. OPEIU local 153 is filing an unfair labor practices suit against Tufts University as a result of this threat and others from Tufts lawyers in bargaining meetings.

Support ULTRA, the Tufts RA Union, by signing this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-tufts-resident-assistants-deserve-pay/

Fittingly enough, today’s #WorkerWednesday falls on May Day, or International Workers' Day, a date designated by the international labor movement as an occasion to recognize and celebrate workers and the working classes.

Not me almost crying at my desk today because a couple folks from my Union brought me a card and flowers to say thank you for the work I'm doing on the contract negotiations.

We're working so hard to get - not even really a fair deal because it will still be so far below living wages - but a better deal than we've had.

Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, which represents more than 5,000 blue- and white-collar workers throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia unanimously, endorsed the Occupy DC movement at its general membership meeting last night, the first labor union to do so. Here is the text of the resolution an Local 2 member emailed us:

OPEIU Local 2 stands in solidarity with and supports the Occupy DC movement. The massive protests on Wall Street against the economic forces that are decimating the middle class and punishing working families have electrified Americans across the country who are saying: enough is enough!

Occupy DC represents an extension of this growing movement. For four days now, activists have camped out in McPherson Square – 24 hours a day – to bring attention to the forces of K Street, which have turned our democratic institutions into auction items available to the highest bidder. The protestors’ message is simple: “get big money out of politics.”