Should Union Dues Be Used For Political Purposes

[capricorn]

No, you do not have to join the union at all with the feds. They cannot oblige you to sign anything.

You're right that they can't force you to sign a union card or any other document. Yet, once you pay dues you are de facto a PSAC (union) member and you are counted in their total membership. All federal workers who are part of a bargaining unit have the full rights of a PSAC member. For example, all PSAC members, whether or not they signed any union document, have the right to vote on tentative offers following negotiations with the employer.

However, you must pay exactly the same dues, deducted at source under Rand formula provisions

That's right. Paying dues is not discretionary except for objection on religious grounds.

<<The deduction and remittance of union dues to certified bargaining agents provides an effective and efficient means of sustaining financial support for Public Service unions while reserving to employees the right not to join such unions.

Through collective bargaining, the Treasury Board as employer has agreed:

* to deduct union dues from the salaries of employees who are members of bargaining units; and

* to remit such dues to the appropriate certified bargaining agent.

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Departments must deduct union dues from all employees unless they are:

* excluded from a bargaining unit under the PSSRA;

* exempt from paying dues because of religious affiliation in accordance with the specific provisions of the collective agreement; or

* in an occupational group that is not represented by a union.>>

http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/T...B/aal11-2_e.asp

[madmax]

Perhaps you are not aware of the Federal Accoujntability Act that was intorduced by the Conservatives:

Good information

This is an excellent direct response to scribletts initial posting.

[geoffrey]

And there is the rub. It seems the OP and others seem to be upset that the Unions typicaly do not support the right wing party's, whom they support.

So, all union members then are left wing NDP supporters? What of the right wing union members? Shouldn't a union, the democratic institutions they pretend to be, spend their ad dollars on the basis of their membership?

Why do I support the Alberta NDP through my union contributions? That's an outrage.

Thank godness I'm moving to a contract basis soon, leaving the union for more money and bargining room. Too bad everyone couldn't do that.