29ers,

Please join the Officers and Representative Staff of OPEIU 29 along with your Union sisters and brothers for our General Membership Meeting. Attending General Membership meetings is a great way to stay informed on current OPEIU 29 affairs and matters that affect you. Members can also learn about OPEIU 29 committees such as SERJ and get involved in the community. Come have dinner, bring your kids so they can participate in an event at the library while you are participating in your Union Membership Meeting.

All OPEIU 29 members attending the meeting must be in good standing, you can check on your dues/membership status before the meeting by logging into our membership database https://opeiu29.unionimpact.com (you will be prompted to create an account, if you are not yet registered).

MEETING REGISTRATION:

You must register for the meeting by clicking or copying and pasting the link below no later than Monday, July 14, 2025, by 4:00 pm. You can also go to our website at www.opeiu29.org to register. Please remember to register with your PERSONAL email address, as no work email addresses will be approved.

Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/251807064162150

In Unity!

Kelly Gschwend Pharaoh Stone President/Business Manager Secretary-Treasurer

More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, almost five months since Congress passed the 13th Amendment, and more than two months after General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate Army, all slaves were ordered free in Texas.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, bringing an official announcement that slavery in the United States had ended by executive decree.  While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued earlier, it was not fully implemented across the country, and many enslaved people in Texas continued to be held in bondage even after the Civil War ended.  The troops arrived to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, therefore, Juneteenth marks the effective end of slavery in Texas, but it wasn't the only date when slavery officially ended in the United States.

This June, OPEIU Local 29 proudly celebrates Pride Month in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ members, colleagues, families, and communities. Pride is a time to honor the courage, resilience, and achievements of those who have fought—and continue to fight—for equality, dignity, and justice.

As a union established in the principles of fairness, respect, and worker empowerment, we recognize that LGBTQIA+ rights are workers’ rights. We stand united against discrimination in all its forms and remain committed to creating inclusive, equitable workplaces where everyone can thrive, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

OPEIU Local 29 reaffirms our dedication to advocating for policies and protections that support LGBTQIA+ working people. We celebrate the diversity within our union and pledge to continue encouraging an environment of unity, strength, and pride—not just in June, but every day of the year.

Happy Pride Month!

OPEIU 29

We invite all union siblings, community allies, and working families to take action with us throughout the day. Click here to view and/or download all May Day Action Flyers.