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.

The stakes are too high to force through the nomination of a new justice just six weeks before the general election. We owe it to Justice Ginsburg to respect her last wishes and refuse to allow her seat to be filled until the American people vote on Nov. 3. OPEIU recognizes what's at stake this election, and pledges to devote all its energies in the fight for justice and equality.

COVID unmasks inequities that unions work to overcome - Message from the President

The COVID pandemic continues to effect daily life in ways that seemed unimaginable a few months ago. With the nationwide death toll expected to be more than 100,000 by June, the number of unemployed Americans exceeding 35 million and tens of millions more working on the front lines caring for sick, working at grocery stores, maintaining supply chains and keeping other essential services going, the crisis has demonstrated how fragile and unequal our nation’s economic and social systems are.

 “We may all be in the same storm, but that doesn’t mean we’re in the same boat.” It’s a phrase I’ve heard often these last few weeks and it provides an honest perspective on the enormous, sometimes painful inequities this pandemic has revealed.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program. Full details, rules and applications can be found at OPEIU.org under the Member Resources/Union Benefits link, as well as on the OPEIU app*.

OPEIU will provide five awards of $2,500 to OPEIU members who have at least $10,000 in student debt and are able to prove their account is current. A member can receive an award only once in a lifetime and must have completed an associate or undergraduate degree.

Visit OPEIU.org to apply today!

*Download the free OPEIU app for iPhones at the App Store and for Android devices at Google Play by searching OPEIU.