WHY PAY UNION DUES?
"Why should I pay union dues?” A good answer is to think of the Union as an Insurance provider, and your dues as the premium. Like insurance after a disaster, the Union will work to be there for you when you need it.
The Union acts as a watchdog of the College’s managerial decisions and related implementation in order to proactively protect the rights, benefits and working conditions of our members.
At times, the Union works jointly with the College to develop and/or improve policies, and to deliver information to all members on matters such as harassment awareness and changes in policy and procedures (e.g. the Code of Ethics).
“Who is the Union?" Each member has one voice, and that voice is amplified when funneled through the Union! Collectively all members form one loud voice that is difficult for the College to ignore. The more united our members stand, the more they speak the same message the more likely the Union is going to convince the College to support its goals.
HOW MUCH DO WE PAY?
According to the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers, each unit member pays a fee that includes membership in AFT, NJSFT and AFL-CIO, as well as, accident insurance and liability insurance. Every associate pays a monthly total of $27.45 – that equates to $329.40 year/member. Our members currently pay $0.01 more or $27.46/month for membership. This means we are adding $9.60/year to our operating funds to pay our union activities. The fees are broken down below:
| Organization | Membership Fees (full) | Total # of Members | Monthly Total | Yearly Total |
| AFT National | $15.35 | 80 | $1,228.00 | $14,736.00 |
| NJSFT | $11.50 | 80 | $920.00 | $11,040.00 |
| AFL - CIO | $0.50 | 80 | $40.00 | $480.00 |
| Liability Insurance | $0.00 | 80 | 0 | 0 |
| Accident Insurance | $0.10 | 80 | $8.00 | $96.00 |
| Total | $27.45 Monthly | 80 | $2,196.00 | $26,352.00 |
| Actual Totals | $27.46 Monthly | 80 | $2,196.80 | $26,361.60 |
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
Like any organization, a Union needs resources to function. AFT staff is hired to provide specific expertise on areas such as negotiations, grievances, legal advice and political action. Dues are also used to offset costs for basic needs such as office rent, utilities, office equipment, computers, even photocopies. Additionally, dues provide us with arbitration and lawyer fees (in case we need it); it pays for conferences, training, transportation and hotel stays for members attending conferences. It allows us to have lunches at meetings and Christmas parties for our members. Unlike a private entity, the Union is not about making money – it’s about building power for working people.