We all pay Union dues in order fund our Union to work on behalf. The dues we pay go to things like paying for office staff and rent on the office, and covering the expenses associated with contract negotiations, arbitration, etc. It is a necessary business expense for those of us working in Union shops, and over the years, that money has been proven to be a great investment for Union members. Union shops have higher base pay, more frequent raises, and better working conditions. Dues are insurance against bad management.

They can also be tax deductible.

Tax law is very complex, so everyone needs to do their own research to be sure that this applies to them. The IRS considers dues to be a "un-reimbursed business expense" and, therefore, can be deducted in most situations. You do need to be itemizing expenses, but most homeowners or those with high medical or child-care related expenses are most likely doing that already.

Since most companies withdraw dues automatically, while you won't find the Union dues expense listed in your W2, you should see them with a year-to-date total on your last paystub from 2013.

 P.S. - OPEIU Local 39 Membership Meeting

February 19, 2014 5:30P.M.

 

All union members invited and encouraged to attend.

 

437 S. Yellowstone Drive

Vantage II Building

2nd Floor Conference Room

 

Agenda

• Unit Updates
• Financial Update 

 

Quarterly membership meetings are important to the functioning of the union. They are how the membership is informed about what's happening in the various bargaining units, how the union is spending our money, and other decisions that can only be decided by the membership through voting. Remember, a union is one of the last vestiges of actual democracy in our country and everyone's participation matters.

 

The meetings are important. But they aren't always exciting.

 

That can be considered a good thing (no one is actively shooting at union members anymore, or forcibly trying to prevent us from assembling) but it does make it easy to think "Well, I'll get there next time." And then next time doesn't happen, even though it's important that everyone of us participates as best we can in the functioning of the union.

 

Please take the following survey to help us understand what would make it more likely that you would come to a Membership meeting. It will only take a few minutes and the information you give us will be really important in helping us craft membership meetings that serve the needs of the membership.

 

 Local 39 Membership Meeting Survey