OPEIU Local 251 History

The picture above is from the 1930's labor struggle. The men in the picture are honoring a member of their local who was shot and killed by the police during a labor demonstration. Many people worked hard and sacrificed to establish the good pay and benefits most workers enjoy today. Some lost their lives. We must always honor those who gave so much so that others could live better lives.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED TO ESTABLISH THE GOOD WORK CONDITIONS, HEALTH CARE, BENEFITS AND PENSIONS THAT WE CAME TO EXPECT AS A GIVEN. NOW, WE ARE SEEING OUR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS, RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND OTHER WORKPLACE BENEFITS ERODING AS WE AGE AND NEED THEM THE MOST. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO INSURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION HAS GOOD BENEFITS? WHAT WILL YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO? GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR UNION TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO.

OPEIU Local 251 was certified at the Company on September 8, 1951, by vote of the employees and has continuously operated since that time. 

Did you know that this Local has had only one strike in its history? It lasted four (4) hours.  

OPEIU Local 251 also participates in such company committees as the Joint Job Study, Safety & Health, Tripartite, Compensation, REPEP, BBS, and Benefits. We can enrich our time with Local 251 by volunteering for committee work and/or as a Steward. Your participation is always encouraged.  Please contact any Officer or Steward for more information.

OPEIU INTERNATIONAL UNION

The American Federation of Labor chartered the Office and Professional Employees International Union in 1945. At the time of its founding, the membership of the Union numbered 22,000.  The Union now counts 145,000 members and is one of the larger unions in the AFL-CIO.

As it moves into its 57th year of chartered existence, the OPEIU has local unions functioning throughout the fifty states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.  The Union also counts 53 Canadian local unions, which are located throughout the provinces. 

The aims and purposes of the Union are set out in its constitution:

"The International Union shall be devoted and dedicated to promoting, protecting and championing the legitimate struggles of professional, technical, office and clerical employees toward achieving economic well-being, their general welfare and rights as workers and citizens."  OPEIU Constitution, Article II.

SUPREME COURT ESTABLISHED RIGHTS

"Weingarten Rights" are Union Member protection rights that were handed down by the United States Supreme Court. If called into a meeting with management and the meeting could in any way lead to your being disciplined or terminated, or affect your personal working conditions, inform management that you request that your Union Representative or Steward be present at the meeting. Until your representative arrives, explain that you choose not to participate in their discussion. THE EMPLOYEE MUST MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HE/SHE IS REQUESTING UNION REPRESENTATION BEFORE OR DURING THE MEETING. The employee cannot be punished for making this request.