Baschki Robertson

Baschki began her career as a teacher in upstate New York. Baschki became involved in the union after she, along with several other teachers, faced a layoff. When her job was restored after a successful community campaign, she became a steward, then an officer in her union. Baschki left teaching in 2006 to take a position at SEIU Local 1199 representing healthcare workers in Hospitals and Nursing homes. At 1199, she ran campaigns, bargained contracts, and represented members in all levels of healthcare from office-based practices to acute care hospitals. 

In 2016, Baschki joined OPEU which was beginning a transformation to become an organizing union. She has created and taught many educational programs for the over 100,000 members and member leaders of OPEIU which focus on member involvement, member action, and internal organizing. Bargaining and Contract Action Teams across union have been implementing these principles to win major victories at the bargaining table and in their workplaces. Most recently, over 600 nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center ran a strong member-led campaign to win safe staffing ratios which included two strikes, an eighteen-day lockout, and strong community support.

Baschki continues to work supporting OPEIU locals as in transformational leadership and development through education, bargaining and campaign development.