Hear from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Morning Joe talking about the government shutdown and its effects on working people.

As a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, Ta’Lisa Hairston urged pregnant women to take rest breaks at work, stay hydrated and, please, eat regular meals. Then she got pregnant and couldn’t follow her own advice.

Last winter, Ms. Hairston told the human-resources department for Planned Parenthood’s clinic in White Plains, N.Y., that her high blood pressure was threatening her pregnancy. She sent the department multiple notes from her nurse recommending that she take frequent breaks.

Earn your degree for FREE—only through your union!
Winter classes begin January 14, 2019

The OPEIU Free College program also is excited to offer new courses for Spring 2019 to OPEIU members and their dependents. Through the program, you can now earn an associate’s degree in an array of fields, including:

• Cyber Security
• Data Science
• Digital and Social Media Marketing
• Advertising
• Programming and Development
• Hospitality/Event Management
• Hospitality/Hotel and Convention Management
  
  Visit freecollege.opeiu.org today to learn more about other courses offered through the program and start your path toward a FREE associate’s degree with OPEIU.

Brothers and Sisters,

This morning, Senate Republicans are taking testimony on a last minute bill in the Lame Duck session that would require workers to repeatedly vote to stay in their union. This so-called “recertification” legislation serves only one purpose: to keep unions distracted with costly recertification elections, undermining the ability of the union to represent our members under the terms negotiated under our collective bargaining process.

We must stop their efforts to fast track this legislation.

Save on your next holiday getaway – just for being union. Union members get special savings on travel and entertainment: https://unionplus.deals/uniona87b1

Attention OPEIU Members: Marriott Data Breach Means 500 Million People’s Personal Information Is At Risk

Here’s What All OPEIU Members Can Do to Help Protect Themselves:

Today’s announcement of a data breach at Marriott International Hotels and its Starwood reservation system means that 500 million guests’ personal information going back to 2014 – including names, dates of birth and passport numbers – could have been exposed. Hackers also obtained encrypted credit card information for some users, but it’s still unclear if they can use it.

Don’t take any chances. Protect yourself by taking the following steps today:

Enroll today in OPEIU’s Identity Protection Program – sign up at OPEIUidProtect.com or by calling 855-990-0994. This program is FREE to all OPEIU members.
Change your passwords immediately – change both your Marriott and Starwood account passwords.
If you are a victim of identity theft through this data breach or any other, reach out to your recovery specialist team at InfoArmor. The trained experts at InfoArmor will help you restore your identity as best as possible to what it was before the incident. This can save you hundreds of hours of your own time and productivity. It can also save you money.

Sign up today at OPEIUidProtect.com or by calling 855-990-0994. Canadian members can contact Generali Global Assistance at 866-295-7966.

Austin, Texas (Nov. 14, 2018) – Employees at Texas’s largest independent bookstore, BookPeople, have voted for representation by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277.

The group of 80 booksellers, event staff and inventory managers at the Austin bookstore are devoted to creating a thriving business for their community. They sought to unionize to ensure that includes a dignified living and voice in the workplace for all BookPeople employees.

“BookPeople has been part of my life since 1998,” said employee Staci Gray. “It is a magical place that has provided me with so many amazing people who are a part of my family. I want BookPeople to thrive so that these wonderful people can also make a living wage.”

To put the blue wave in context, 46,466,425 people voted for Democratic Senate candidates and 33,239,469 people voted for Republican Senate candidates, resulting in Democrats losing a net 2 seats in the senate. 

While that might not be considered a blue wave, millions of working people mobilized to vote for representatives who support their issues. Yesterday’s midterm results mean there will not be a rollback of Social Security or the elimination of safeguards for the millions of Americans with pre-existing health conditions.

With more women and people of color in history now taking their place in the House and anti-worker governors such as Scott Walker roundly voted out of office, the working people of this nation have made it clear they want leaders who reflect them and their values and who will work to protect their hard-fought rights and freedoms.

The most important midterm election in modern history is tomorrow. Are you ready to vote?

So much is at stake at the ballot box on Tuesday: the protection of workers’ rights, the future of Social Security, the expansion of healthcare coverage and so much more. It is so important that working people, union and non-union, make their way to the polls tomorrow, Nov. 6, to ensure their voices are heard loud and clear.

We cannot afford to have our rights rolled back any further, the benefits we’ve earned and paid into to be slashed or the healthcare coverage of working people with pre-existing conditions to be jeopardized. We cannot afford tax breaks for the top 1 percent while working- and middle-class taxpayers pick up the slack. We cannot afford to have anti-worker politicians representing corporations and billionaires — not working people — in the halls of government.

Visit myunionmyvote.org to find your polling place and make sure you’re prepared for Election Day tomorrow. Know how to get to the polls. Find out who your candidates are. Make your vote count. And remember to bring a friend, family member or co-worker to the polls with you!