Office and Professional Employees International Union - Associational Experiments

Associational Experiments

In 1996, OPEIU and the American Podiatric Medical Association agreed to form a "guild" within OPEIU, the First National Guild for Health Care Providers of the Lower Extremities.

Because of their status as independent contractors, the podiatrists were barred by federal law from forming a labor union. Under the terms of the affiliation agreement, members of the association who wished to join OPEIU did so as associate members, paying a lower dues rate to fund programs to advance podiatrists' lobbying and public education agendas.

Medical doctors, pharmacists, clinical social workers, chiropractors, hypnotists and appraisers have all joined OPEIU on an associate member basis since then.

There is disagreement among observers as to the effectiveness of the associate member model.

Critics argue that while there were initial successes, many 'guild' members desire more professional services that the international union is able to provide given the limited income derived from these members.

But advocates of the guild model argue that the union is laying the groundwork for long-term growth. The union is not only gaining members which enable it to advocate for changes in federal labor law to permit the unionization of independent contractors. The union is also setting the stage for the affiliation of potentially hundreds of thousands of these workers. In the meantime, supporters say, OPEIU gains some additional dues income and is able to enhance its bargaining status with insurers and other vendors by pointing to a larger membership base.