OPEIU 27th INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION HELD IN ORLANDO, FL

OPEIU convened the 27th International Convention in Orlando, Florida on June 6, 2016.  There were 190 delegates, 40 alternate delegates and 39 observers from 75 locals in attendance.  The delegates to the convention elected Richard Lanigan as International President to a three-year term and re elected Mary Mahoney as International Secretary Treasurer for her third term. The delegates exhibited their confidence is this team to lead by electing them unanimously.  Additionally, four new Vice Presidents were elected: Region I - Bruce Wade, Region II Mike Bodinsky and two new Diversity Vice Presidents Lisa Blake and Maureen Meehan-Golonka.

Delegates voted to add new language to the OPEIU Constitution, such as membership benefits and the dedication of additional scholarship monies to aid in relief of student debt, to name a few.  Policies were updated and/or put in place to fully prioritize OPEIU’s position on many societal issues and our stance on legislative action.  Resolutions were approved as to the direction in which OPEIU would move in the next three years. 

Aside from doing the work of OPEIU, delegates heard from exciting speakers such as Marybe McMillan, North Carolina AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer urging all Unions “forward together - not one step back”; Van Jones, CNN political analyst, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka highlighting the work all of us must do together to keep the labor movement strong.