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Modern histories of the civil rights movements of the 1950s and ‘60s frequently place figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks front-and-center, while neglecting the hundreds of thousands of everyday people who turned the fight for civil rights into full-blown movements for civil rights.

By resisting, protesting and boycotting vestiges of white supremacy, black Americans across the nation slowly uprooted many of the discriminatory structures that prevented, and continue to prevent, black Americans from realizing the relative prosperity enjoyed by their white counterparts. Despite playing an integral role, most of the activists who made up the movement remain historically anonymous, deemed too obscure, insignificant or irrelevant to warrant their own histories.

OPEIU’s Tech Workers Union Local 1010 is pleased to today join a coalition of tech industry employees, unions and solidarity networks in presenting the Tech Workers' Bill of Rights, a set of principles to create an equitable future by raising the standards for all workers across the industry -- whether full-time office workers who deserve a say in the products they build, warehouse workers facing unsafe conditions or gig workers seeking security in tech’s competitive landscape.

A collaboration of the Tech Workers Coalition, the Tech Workers' Bill of Rights outlines protections all tech workers deserve and is based on the core values of equity, empowerment, representation, accountability, safety, autonomy, fairness and freedom. It covers a variety of issues specific to tech, including inclusive workplaces free from discrimination, freedom to speak one’s mind without retribution and protection from company surveillance. 

New York, N.Y. (Jan. 25, 2021) -- The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, today announced the formation of its Tech Workers Union Local 1010, an arm of the union with a mission to raise industry standards and provide all tech workers a better future in their workplaces through collective bargaining.

“OPEIU has been investing resources in supporting tech workers as they organize to gain rights and raise standards in the workplace for many years, but now we’re focusing and strengthening that effort by having an organization dedicated to, created for and run by tech workers who understand the unique challenges facing the industry,” OPEIU President Richard Lanigan said. “We’re proud to be building solidarity with working people across the sector so together we can ensure tech workers have a strong voice in their workplaces.”

Applications now are being accepted for the 2021 OPEIU educational scholarships, and all members are encouraged to apply. Full details, rules and applications can be found at OPEIU.org under the Member Resources link, as well as on the OPEIU app.

Scholarship opportunities include the Howard Coughlin Memorial Scholarship for OPEIU members and dependents, and the John Kelly Labor Studies Scholarship for OPEIU members who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in labor studies, industrial relations and union leadership and administration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Romeo Corbeil/Gilles Beauregard Memorial Scholarship Summer Camp has been canceled.

Full details, rules and applications are available at OPEIU.org under the Member Resources link. Apply today!