Union dues are a form of security at the workplace and at home.
The Nunavut Employees Union provides many services to its dues-paying members; grievance handling; appeal representation; availability of services staff, excellent adult education courses; and access to specialized services that range from arbitration, the fight for pay equity and human rights to technological change. Some members may work their entire careers without ever turning to the Union for personal help. The very reason that they do not need to call on the Union is because of the many protections built into the Collective Agreements that the NEU has negotiated. The NEU is ready to enforce our Collective Agreement from the first level of grievance to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Some Financial Benefits For Full Members: You can actually save money by joining the Union.
Income Tax Deductions for Union Dues: As an example, lets take a NEU member who earns an annual salary of $30,000. This member pays about $419 in dues. Since union dues are tax deductible, the real after-tax cost to this member is $251.
Special Savings for NEU and PSAC members: Because of the size of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), of which we are a component, we can negotiate significant discounts for members for auto and car insurance, life insurance and a deduction in credit card interest rates. Click here for more information.
Our Rights: Use Them Or Lose Them!
In our democratic society we place a high value on rights and freedoms. Laws do not create rights; they give legal recognition and protection to the exercise of rights. Our rights are strengthened when they have the full force of the law behind them. When rights have been codified in law or other legal documents such as a collective agreement, the legitimacy of these rights has been established. The goal then shifts to preserving our rights, for example, back-to-work legislation that overnight converts a legal strike into an illegal one. Keeping our rights means using them and protecting them.
Worker's Commitment
I will take pride in the intelligence, strength, endurance, and goodness of workers everywhere. I will remember to be proud that we do the world's work, that we produce the world's wealth, that we belong to the only class with a future, that our class will end all oppression. I will unite with all my fellow workers everywhere around the world to lead all people to a rational, peaceful society. I am a worker, proud to be a worker, and the future is in my hands.
Members of the Nunavut Employees Union pay 1.7036% of their salary for Union dues. Dues apply to: regular pay: overtime: reporting pay: call-back pay: shift premiums: standby pay: vacation leave entitlements and lieu time pay out: retroactive pay: payment awarded from a grievance, arbitration or minutes of settlement. Members approve dues rates at the NEU's Triennial Convention.
How does the NEU spend your dues?
Basic services we perform for you include: availability of NEU servicing staff: negotiating Collective Agreements: enforcing your Collective Agreement rights and privileges and handling grievances when there are violations: classification and staffing competition appeal representation: top-notch education courses: monitoring and informing you on political developments: writing and presenting briefs to legislative Committees and other forums to ensure strong labour law and protection of your rights as a worker.
Where do your dues go?
Union dues from your pay go first to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). The NEU is one of 17 PSAC components. The Alliance retains a portion of your dues for services to PSAC members (including you as a member of the NEU component). The amount of dues retained by the PSAC is determined at the PSAC Convention, which is attended by NEU delegates.
If you are an indeterminate GN employee, PSAC currently retains $22.47 of your dues per month, regardless of how much you contribute. If you are a NEU member outside the GN, the PSAC retains 47-53% of your dues.
Question: We're being taxed to death. Isn't Union dues just another tax on our paycheque?
Answer: If workers got the same return from taxes you pay as you get from your Union dues, you wouldn't complain about taxes! (Walter Reuther, President of the United Auto Workers, 1967).
After retaining its portion of dues, the PSAC returns the remainder to the NEU and our Locals for services provided to our members. $1.45 per signed member per month* of dues rebates goes to your Local, to be used at its discretion. That's one reason why it's important for you to sign a Union card and take part in Local business.
The more signed members your Local has, the more Dues Rebate money your Local gets. The Local must submit a quarterly, financial statement report in order to receive the Dues Rebate.
Every year, the NEU uses the money, all directly or indirectly to protect your rights. The largest expenditures are these:
1. Wages and benefits for staff and full-time elected officials. Staff includes Service Officers who enforce your Collective Agreement, and handle grievances at the 2nd level and beyond.
2. Interest on the mortgage for our head office building and Iqaluit staff house.
3. Depreciation on assets, mainly NEU properties (NEU head office, Iqaluit office and apartment building).
4. Rebated to Locals to spend the way their signed members see fit.
5. Executive expenses - mainly travel costs for RVPs to go into the communities for servicing duties, and the President's annual visits to several communities per year ( which he is required to do by Convention).
6. Semi annual meeting of the full executive (President, Vice-Presidents, RVPs) in Yellowknife to implement policy and bylaws passed at Convention.
7. Costs for negotiating new Collective Agreements - mostly travel costs for Service Officers and RVPs to go to the communities to do this.
8. Utilities (heat, lights, hot water) for NEU properties.
9. Repairs and maintenance to NEU properties.
10. Costs of running NEU offices (headquarters and in regions).
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LINKS OF INTEREST..
· Canadian Labour Congress
· Labour Standards
· PSAC North
· Public Service Alliance of Canada
· Union of Northern Workers (NWT)
· Worker's Compensation Board
· Workplace Equity
· Workrights Canada
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