Membership FAQ

Don't need to read more? You can sign you membership card here (link).

I signed a card before the union authorization vote.  Am I already a union member?

Maybe. The union authorization card you signed was a formal statement that you wanted a union to exist in your workplace, and many people who signed also checked the box for the membership card. A.) It doesn't hurt to resign (link here to sign), if our records indicate that you are already a member, it will void the double. B.) If you reach out to Oregon AFSCME Member Services (link) they can confirm your membership status for you in seconds. The decision to join your union is entirely separate from the legal process of forming one. Joining the union is opt-in, not opt-out, so you still need to complete a membership card to become a member if you haven't yet. When entering your info, if you don’t know your employee number or other details like that, or if there are fields that don’t apply to your job, it’s ok to leave those fields blank. Only the fields in yellow are required.

I can’t remember whether I’ve signed up or not, I’ve signed a lot of things lately.  What should I do?

Go ahead and sign up! It doesn’t create any problems if you’ve done it already, and you won’t be charged double dues. If you would like to double check, you can reach out to Oregon AFSCME Member Services (link) they can confirm your membership status for you in seconds.

Ok, I’m ready to join! How do I sign up?

It’s easy to join online. Just visit the Research Workers United website and fill out the membership form (link here). If you don’t know your employee number or other details like that, or if there are fields that don’t apply to your job, it’s ok to leave those fields blank.

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

In the short term, strong membership numbers signal to management that you and your co-workers support your bargaining team. This, in turn, gives the bargaining team more power to make demands on behalf of the membership and secure a better contract.  When management knows we stand together, they know they have to take negotiations seriously.

In the longer term, membership gives you the right to participate in your union and its decision-making processes. Only members are entitled to attend union meetings, run for office, vote on officer positions, and vote on whether or not to ratify final contracts. While non-members are still protected by the contract, they lose all privileges to have a say in what their union does.

How much are union dues?

Union dues are 1.275% of your base pay. Any easy way to think of this is $12.75 for every $1000.00 earned. But, no one will pay any dues until we have voted to ratify our first contract. Most people will not vote for a contract that doesn't increase wages enough to cover dues. More members mean more power and bigger improvements.

Are dues pre or post tax?

Dues are pre-tax.

What are dues used for?

A portion of your dues will remain with your local (Research Workers United), which means you and your colleagues will decide how best to use them to advance your interests in the workplace. The rest are split between the statewide AFSCME council (Council 75) and AFSCME International. These funds are used to pay for member training, expert staff to help support your local and bargain good contracts, legal services, advocacy for labor-friendly laws and policies, bringing new members into our union, and a variety of other services to improve the lives of members.

If I join now, will I start paying dues right away?

No. You only start to pay dues at the point that you start enjoying all the benefits of union membership, which means you don’t pay anything until your first contract is ratified by a majority vote of the membership.  Most first contracts come with a substantial pay increase–usually more than enough to cover the cost of dues. Additionally, you will be able to vote on our first contract in order to ensure that it is the right fit.

I’m not a US Citizen.  Can I still join the union?

Yes! The National Labor Relations Act protects the right of any worker in the US to join and participate in their union, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. It is illegal for your employer to threaten or retaliate against you for taking part in these legally protected activities. If that happens, please let your AFSCME Representative know.