Allstate Agent Group to Vote on Union Affiliation

GULFPORT, Miss., July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tired of being controlled as employees and defined as independent contractors, members of the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents, Inc. (NAPAA), who feel threatened with the loss of their businesses will soon take part in a secret mail ballot vote that will decide whether the Association will affiliate with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) as a Guild.  The vote will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and be counted on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at the AAA's New York office.    

The decision to poll the membership was bolstered by an enthusiastic response by attendees and the NAPAA Board of Directors at the group's most recent national conference in New Orleans, LA, where Michael Goodwin, president of OPEIU presented the case for affiliation and took questions from the audience. He was quick to point out that guilds have proven to be very effective for self-employed workers, citing the Screen Actors Guild, of which Ronald Reagan was once president.

The OPEIU represents 125,000 employees and guild members, but when coupled with its affiliation with the AFL-CIO, the number swells to more than 11 million.  With a positive vote on the ballot initiative, the group will take steps to formalize the affiliation. Upon affiliation, NAPAA members will be granted membership in the OPEIU, the national AFL-CIO and all State Federations of Labor, giving the agent group better access to legislative assistance and legal expertise.  

"With the prospect of a 20% cut in agent compensation looming, the Association believes the time is ripe to affiliate," said NAPAA executive director Jim Fish.  "In addition, many insurers utilizing independent contractor agents have manipulated IRS precepts to the point where independent contractors are now employees without benefits or protections," he added.  

Confident of an affirmative vote to affiliate with OPEIU, Fish added, "Agent morale at Allstate has hit rock bottom, which cannot be good for the company, the agents or the shareholders. This is not a matter of political philosophy; it's a matter of defending the interests of ill-treated small business owners. The ballots will be distributed within a matter of days. This historic vote will be proof positive that agents are extremely unhappy with the status quo at Allstate."

ABOUT NAPAA

Based in Gulfport, Mississippi, NAPAA is a non-profit organization whose members are predominantly insurance agents under contract with Allstate. In addition to offering a variety of benefits and services, NAPAA further serves its members by acting on their behalf and speaking with a distinct and unfettered voice on a wide range of issues. To contact NAPAA, please visit its Website at www.napaausa.org or call (877) 269-3474.

ABOUT OPEIU

The Office and Professional Employees International Union represents more than 125,000 employees and independent contractors in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada in banking, insurance, higher education, shipping, hospitals, medical clinics, utilities, transportation, hotels, administrative offices and more.

Professional organizations and Guilds affiliated with OPEIU are a diverse group that includes physicians, pharmacists, chiropractors, appraisers, podiatrists, clinical social workers, hypnotists, teachers and helicopter pilots.

SOURCE Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO (OPEIU)