Union dues

Members of most trade unions pay a portion of their wages to their local to support the union's internal government, pay for any legal representation, and contribute to a strike fund. Many unions also spend a considerable portion of their members' dues to lobby and campaign for politicians they support. In 2005, a non-election year, the AFL-CIO spent 30 percent of its budget on these activities.

All active members of a given union pay dues, which are ordinarily source deducted by the employer and remitted directly to the international office of the union, which keeps a portion and send the rest on to the local union office.

In collective bargaining agreements, the wage level is typically prescribed on the basis of seniority and attained education and rank. For instance, a journeyman makes more money than an apprentice. The dues are typically a percentage of gross wages but may also involve set rates per hour plus contributions to certain funds operated by the international union office. For example, members of the United Steelworkers contribute to a "humanity fund", which is a charitable payment to third world relief.

The Industrial Workers of the World rely on their members to submit dues voluntarily, instead of relying on the "dues check off" system, in which dues are automatically deducted from workers' paychecks by their bosses.

External links

• United Steelworkers Humanity Fund - Union website on charitable contributions funded by union dues

• Union Free America - Anti-union website