{"id":1162,"date":"2016-08-21T19:33:53","date_gmt":"2016-08-21T19:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/?page_id=1162"},"modified":"2016-12-20T16:14:19","modified_gmt":"2016-12-20T16:14:19","slug":"mailbag","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/faq\/mailbag\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Mail Bag"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nHow much are membership dues and when do we start paying?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dues are important to any union because they provide the financial resources necessary to equalize power with the employer. But we have democratic control of when graduate employees start paying GWC-UAW membership dues. Under UAW policy, graduate employees will not pay any dues until after a bargaining committee WE elect successfully negotiates a contract with Columbia and WE vote to approve that contract.<\/p>\n

After a contract is in place, union members in Local 2110 will pay just 2% of our gross income in dues during semesters when we have jobs covered under the contract. The monetary value of benefits such as healthcare premiums and tuition remission is exempt from dues under the UAW Constitution\u2014in other words, if we negotiate better health benefits or increased fee waivers, the value of those improvements does not increase your dues.<\/p>\n

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Will all of us be required to be members of the Union and pay dues or fees?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No one can be required to become a member of the Union after we have a contract. But since the Union is legally obligated to represent all of us, and all of us would receive the benefits of the contract, we can have an arrangement where non-members are required to pay a comparable \u201cfair share\u201d fee so the cost of representation is shared equally. But this would be something we decide as part of our bargaining agenda and would be subject to negotiation with Columbia.<\/p>\n

Most graduate worker Unions have such a provision in the contract because it means we have the most resources available to maintain a strong relationship with the administration. <\/p>\n

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How is the dues money allocated? What is it used for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local 2110 keeps at least half of overall dues money, which it uses to represent members in grievance handling, contract negotiations, and various other activities. Depending on the overall health of the UAW Strike Fund, the local generally receives additional money from the Strike Fund, called a \u201crebate\u201d, to help with the local\u2019s day-to-day responsibility of taking care of its members and means that typically Local 2110 keeps more than half of dues. Members may examine regular financial reports showing how dues money is spent.<\/p>\n

The remaining dues money, which goes to the International Union, pays for services that also benefit members at the Local level. \u00a0Prior to any \u201crebate,\u201d 32 percent goes into the Strike and Defense Fund, which gives us leverage in bargaining because the University would know we have the capacity to strike if that ever became necessary.\u00a0 The remaining 18 percent goes toward various activities and support services of the UAW that benefit local unions across the US, including ours.\u00a0 For example, dues money pays for the following:<\/p>\n