Q&A with NPEU Member Kimberly Capehart

An Interview with NPEU Member Kimberly Capehart.

What do you do at the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC)?

I am the office manager at the WRC. I work on a variety of tasks including employee benefits, office supplies, expense reports, meeting preparations, proofreading, and other bits and pieces that need to be completed.

How long have you been a NPEU member?

I recently celebrated my one-year anniversary on October 1st!

Is this your first time working in a unionized workplace? If so, how is it different from a non-union workplace you've worked in? If not, how is NPEU different from the previous union you were part of?

This is the first union I have been a part of. The difference between nonunion and union is stark. First, the benefits and pay are significantly greater compared to my previous organizations. There is a real focus on comprehensive healthcare and retirement benefits.

Second, the focus on worker rights is marked. There is a general sense that the company is lucky to have the workers versus the workers being lucky to have a job. I have experienced the latter attitude most commonly in the for-profit sector, though it has also leaked into some of my previous nonprofit workplaces as well.

Third, the power balance is different. I have worked in places with tight knit groups, who have each other’s backs, but having the support of a union is a different type of power. It takes negotiating with management to a new level—one where simply stating that I have the backing of my coworkers has greater meaning and implications.

What has your overall experience been like working at a unionized workplace?

Overall, I would say positive. There was an instance where I was interested in getting a benefit that historically people in my position had been excluded from. I am so thankful for the strong, supportive response I received from my colleagues once I presented my request. It was truly amazing. Saying I had the backing of the union in my conversation with management, I think, played a key role in the successful amendment of our CBA to allow my position to also receive the benefit.

What do you value most about your NPEU contract?

Hands down the complete health coverage for me and my family and the employer FSA contribution that covers fees not covered by insurance (copays and out-of-pocket costs). In the past, I have been without insurance and have been on limited coverage plans. I no longer have to budget for or skip doctors’ appointments or preventative care, nor do I have to worry about paying for prescriptions. The precariousness of financial ruin due to health events is no longer really applicable to my life. The absence of the stress is liberating.

How would you like to see NPEU grow or develop in the next 5 years?

I would love to see our membership increase. I really wish for these benefits for all my former coworkers and colleagues.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I enjoy video games, board games, volunteering, and spending time with friends.

Do you have any skills or talents that you could offer NPEU members, if they need it?

A lot of my previous work involved event planning. I really enjoy it and would be happy to contribute.