ALAMEDA, Calif., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Approximately 160 health and pension plan customer service representatives and support staff have voted to take strike action against the Associated Third Party Administrators (ATPA), located in Alameda, California, and Contra Costa County unless the company offers a viable union pension plan.  The employees are members of Local Unions 29 and 3 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO. 

"At the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, the unions and APTA will be returning to the bargaining table," said Local 29 President/Business Manager Tamara R. Rubyn.  "If the company refuses to offer a viable pension plan for the Local 29 members and continues to offer a meaningless 25 cent contribution to a 401(k) or other plan, we will have no choice but to exercise our right to strike."  Members currently have a $3.40 an hour contribution to the pension plan.

Contract negotiations have dragged on since June 30, 2013.  "OPEIU has represented these employees for decades," said Local 3 Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager Natalie Naylor.  "We hope ATPA will realize its employees are prepared to strike before they will see the loss of their pension plan, and instead will come back to the table with a proposal that is fair to both sides."

Additional OPEIU local unions represent members employed at ATPA, including Local 11 in Portland, Oregon, and Local 537 in Southern California.  Local 537 is currently the only group to have settled its contract with ATPA.

ABOUT OPEIU
The Office and Professional Employees International Union represents more than 104,000 members in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. OPEIU represents employees and independent contractors in banking and credit unions, 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 nurses, podiatrists, insurance agents, appraisers, clinical social workers, minor league baseball umpires, teachers and helicopter pilots.

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