About Us

OPEIU Local 8 is a progressive, democratically run union working for social and economic justice since 1945. Local 8 represents more than 9,000 members all over Washington state working in many settings including offices, health and home care, housing, social services, the insurance industry, legal services and the public sector.

Local 8 members join together to speak with a unified voice for workplace improvements, for equitable wages and benefits we can count on, for respect and dignity on the job, and for protection and support to ensure our workplace rights are upheld. Local 8 also organizes non-union employees to raise standards for all working families, and to protect the hard-won rights and benefits of our current members.

Local 8 belongs to the 110,000 member strong Office and Professional Employees International Union, which is one of the larger AFL-CIO unions. However, members from Local 8 vote on our local leaders from the membership, vote on important union decisions at Membership Assemblies that are always voluntary and govern the union based on the desires of our local membership.

Local 8’s over 9,000 members work at Kaiser Permanente/WA; Providence Regional Medical Center Everett; Trios Hospital; Sea Mar Community Health Centers; Solid Ground; City of Ellensburg;  Union and Law Offices; Willapa Harbor Hospital; King County Departments; Seattle, Tacoma, Pierce County and Bremerton Housing Authorities; Valley Medical Center; Metropolitan Development Council; Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Northwest Justice Project; Tri-Cities Community Health Center; Plymouth Housing Group; YouthCare; Cascade Regional Blood Center; Coastal Community Action Program;  Crisis Connections; Waterfront Credit Union; Low Income Housing Institute; Consejo Counseling and Referral Service; Senior Life Resources; Compass Housing Alliance; and many other workplaces all over Washington.