February 23, 2010

HNA Goes Public with OPEIU, AFL-CIO Affiliation

HNA Affiliation News Goes Public in New York's Times Square.

"Our affiliation with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) is a landmark decision for us and signals our intention to take our place in organized labor," said HNA President Joan Craft, RN. Craft said OPEIU was chosen after much research and interviewing of other AFL-CIO affiliates.

The HNA Board of Directors voted unanimously to affiliate with the OPEIU in a meeting held on January 16, 2010. Top leaders from OPEIU traveled to Honolulu to speak to the board members and take part in the official signing of affiliation documents. The affiliation was publicly announced to the media earlier this month, following a letter mailed to HNA members’ home addresses.

"I have the utmost respect for the Hawai'i Nurses' Association and we are honored they chose to affiliate with OPEIU. HNA will be a tremendous addition to the nursing and healthcare contingent of our union," said Michael Goodwin, OPEIU International President. The OPEIU was chartered in 1945 with more than 125,000 members and is one of the larger unions of the AFL-CIO. They have locals in every state, Puerto Rico and Canada. HNA was given the official local number, "OPEIU Local 50" because Hawaii is the 50th state.

“If you do the research you will find that OPEIU ranks at the very top as a labor organization that ensures autonomous decision making and member level involvement in their union,” said HNA Executive Director Patt A. Gibbs, Esq. Leaders of the Hawai'i Nurses' Association will attend the OPEIU National Convention in June 2010 for an official charter ceremony.