CAW Union Dues Structure

• Monthly dues are two hour and twenty minutes
• Dues are allocated to different purposes as the Constitution directs.
• Local Union 41%
• General Administration Fund 36%
• Strike Insurance 20%
• Education 3%

If the strike fund has more than $50 million for three months dues will be shared as follows:

• Local Unions 43%
• National Union General Fund
• Strike Fund 14%
• Special Mobilizing Fund 2%
• Education Fund
• Divert 2% of total dues on a permanent basis from the strike fund to organizing

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF MY DARN UNION

All I get for these monthly dues is:

• I must accept a good medical and dental coverage plan that my employer pays for.
• If I am called in early on my shift or on a weekend, I must accept three hours pay for call-time, plus time-and-a-half pay for all hours worked on a weekend.
• I must take seven weeks vacation - after 20 years with the company, fully paid.
• I must have seniority rights that move me up the progression ladder in a fair and just manner.
• I am forced to have a good grievance procedure so that I must be treated fairly by managemnet.
• I am forced by my darn union to work in a safe, healthy environment. I also cannot believe how our pushy union is going to force a good, company-paid pension on me when I retire.
• My union is also very democratic and regularly asks for my input. What is wrong with you union leaders anyway, running a union like this?
• My union leadership tells me that I am the union. Some nerve, Huh? Who do they think they are anyway?
• Unions are really terrible, that's for sure. I think I'll contact the labour board and see if I can get my union decertified. I am sick and tired of the union doing all these things for me.

Ken Springs is a member of Local 580, Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers in Longview, Washington. He wrote this editorial in response to an article on decertifying unions in the Seattle Post Intelligencer. The newspaper refused to print his response, but we're glad to publish it here. Credit: Ken Springs / AWPPW / CALM

Chronology of Bargaining Breakthroughs