HOW ABOUT UNION DUES?
Consider union dues like job insurance - all dues collected are used to provide services for our members when they need them. As a union member with the USW you have a democratic voice, and vote, in how dues dollars are spent. And because the union is not-for-profit organization, union dues are tax deductible.
WHERE DO MY UNION DUES GO?
· To negotiate your conditions of work in a legally binding contract
· To force the company to abide to the agreed to conditions
To give you:
· Wage and benefit protection
· Respect and dignity at work
· Job security
To protect you:
· Against employer favouritism
· Unfair treatment from employer for unjust discipline or termination
To provide:
· A healthy and safe workplace
· Negotiation of benefits
· Educational training opportunities
To represent you:
· In grievances and arbitrations
· With EI and WSIB when needed
THE FACTS ABOUT UNION DUES
Many employers try to convince employees not to join the union by making untrue and misleading arguments about union dues. But ask yourself: why is your employer suddenly concerned about how you spend the money you earn?
Having a unionized workplace means you and your coworkers will have a meaningful say in your workplace.
The Steelworkers are a registered non-profit workers’ organization, therefore union dues are tax deductible for you as a member.
· You DON’T pay any union dues…
until you and your co-workers have voted to accept your first United Steelworkers union contract. You pay dues from this point forward only.
if you are off work for an injury, illness, layoff, or any unpaid leave of absence.
Union dues are accountable to you, the members. The USW believes in financial transparency. Local and International Union accounts are audited regularly and an international public audit is conducted every 2 years. All financial information is available to every member.
Union dues that are paid by our Canadian members are collected, banked, and spent in Canada for the benefit of Steelworker Canadian members.
Your company pays dues too! Similar to workers’ unions, companies pay dues to entities like the Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Manufacturers’ Association and other business groups. Organizations like these represent employer interests and lobby the government to keep your wages and benefits low, and to weaken labour laws, minimum standards and health and safety regulations.
If it’s alright for companies to pay dues to their unions, why should employers convince their employees against it?