Local 167 members,

The United States Supreme Court made a decision yesterday regarding public sector unions (Janus v. AFSME) regarding union dues and other fees. The short version is this DOES NOT EFFECT IAEP LOCAL 167 at all, we are a private sector union under the National Labor Relations Act.

How does it effect public sector unions:

Membership in a union is broken down into two categories.

Full dues paying member: Receives all the contract offerings, they get voting rights in meetings, on contracts and ability to hold officer positions and be on union committees, backing of union on disciplinary issues. They also get full benefits of other services the union offers like group buying discounts and supplemental insurance offers.

Non-members pay a reduced rate of dues at Local 167 that is $.50 less than full dues, sometimes called fair share, or agency fees. This rate is set by our National Union body (NAGE). Non members receive all the contract offerings and backing of union on disciplinary issues, they do not receive the extra benefits of a full dues paying member. They are required to pay this by the National Labor Relations Act as Minnesota is a closed shop state. Which means you are required to pay as a condition of employment.

What the Supreme Court decided, was that in the public sector, a union can no longer compel people to pay fair share dues or agency fees. The person will now get the full benefits of a dues paying member while not having to pay any dues or fees.

This was brought to the Supreme Court because Mr. Janus believes, as some do, that union dues were being used for things that did not represent Mr. Janus’s beliefs. Dues are used for many things and not all members agree with what the funds will be used for. This can be contract related, political, charitable or sometimes other social causes. The larger unions at times use their funds, for these types of things and this can cause members and non members to not agree on how the funds are used. Local 167 does not spend any money on these types of causes unless motioned and approved by a majority at a general membership meeting.

If you have any questions about this topic or any thing else please reach out to President Hopper.