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1. Become an "Agency Fee Payer"
2. Become a "Religious
Objector"
Agency Fee Payers
An agency fee payer is an employee who chooses to resign from union membership.
He or she pays an agency fee (also known as the "representation"
or "fair share" fee) that is used for collective bargaining purposes,
but receives a refund of the portion of their dues that is not used for
collective bargaining (such as union political expenditures).
If you want to get money back because you have political or ideological
objections your union's agenda, you can become an agency fee payer. Agency
fee payers give the union 100 percent of regular dues, but are eligible
to claim a rebate each year if they remember to request it in writing each
fall.
Opting Out as an Agency Fee Payer
Your union's constitution and bylaws should include provisions specifying
where to send your resignation letter, but here are some general guidelines.
Write a letter to your state affiliate union president stating that you
object to the portion of your dues spent on activities that your union has
deemed non-chargeable. Ask them to rebate the portion of your dues used
for non-chargeable expenses and to provide you with an explanation of how
the rebate is calculated. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number,
job title, place of employment and any other pertinent information. Be sure
to sign and date the letter.
Once you write your letter or fill out one provided, make three copies:
- Send the original to your state affiliate president,
- Send one copy to the local union president,
- Send one copy to your payroll department, and
- Keep the third copy for your records.
If you have authorized payroll deduction of full dues, you should also
have to notify your employer that you wish to authorize only the deduction
of the portion of dues that is chargeable under law.
Here are a few sample letters to guide your own letter writing: sample
letter to WEA and sample
letter to WFSE.
Opting out as a Religious Objector
Religious objectors are employees whose sincerely held religious beliefs
prohibit them from being members of unions. Religious objectors do not get
a refund. Their dues are diverted to a charity that both they and the local
union president agree upon. No money goes to the union and no money goes
back to the religious objector.
See the I Choose
Charity website for more information on how
to opt out by becoming a religious objector and tips
on writing a letter to resign as a religious objector.
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Evergreen Freedom Foundation
P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874
Email: effwa@effwa.org |
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