These comments seem to have "MERIT"! Yes you do pay dues when you are a member of a Union. It takes the dues of all the members to support and run the union. However, as a member of a Union you work for a contractor that believes in treating his employees with respect and dignity. You are paid wages, pension, and health benefits according to a contract agreement between the union and the employer. Your conditions of work are spelled out in this agreement. Safety issues are addressed in this agreement. You have a spokesman on the job, and a Business Manager to protect your rights in the work place because of this agreement.
So what does this have to do with union dues? Well those of you who do not belong to the union may not realize that you pay Non Union Dues. "What?" you say, "I don't pay any dues!" Well, consider this:
Traditionally Union Contractors pay higher wages and benefits than non-union contractors. Right now Union Journeyman Plumbers & Pipefitters earn $49.47 per hour total package which includes $33.86 on the check and two pensions and complete health care with no pre existing conditions for the worker and all dependents (no out of pocket co-pays or add-ons). Also, all training, both apprentice and journeyman, is paid by the contractors at no additional cost to you.
Now add up your hourly wages and benefits, and subtract that figure from the above. If the difference is just $1.00 per hour, on a forty hour week in a four week month, you are shorted pay an average of $160.00 per month compared to unionized pipe trades workers. If you are paid $18.00 per hour and no benefits you are losing allot. There is a difference! These are the Non-Union dues that you pay to help support your non-signatory contractor!
So, who is taking care of you? Who is getting fat off their employees? Who is paying someone to allow them to work?
Think about this the next time your contractor tells you that the Union will not do anything for you. Ask yourself, " Who is he really trying to protect?" Ask yourself "what dues am I really paying?"
REMEMBER, together we bargain, divided we beg!
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