Frequently Asked Questions About Your Union Dues
Why are my dues changing from a flat rate to a percentage?
Union dues are traditionally structured as percentage based. Flat rate dues are regressive where the lowest
income earners pay the same as the highest earners. Dues based on a percentage are progressive and keep up
with the cost of inflation and the cost of providing services to its members. Understanding the change from a flat
rate to a percentage would be a departure from COPPEA’s long-standing practice, Local 17 agreed to reduce our
usual dues rate for the first year of percentage based dues. Therefore, for 2015, COPPEA Chapter member dues
will be 0.65% of the employee’s salary and for 2016 and onward the dues will be set at the regular rate of 0.85%.
How do I calculate my dues amount?
Dues are based on gross wages, and do not include overtime wages. To calculate your dues, you would multiply
your gross salary by 0.65% or .0065. To determine the amount of your dues deduction per paycheck, you would
need to multiply your monthly gross by .0065, and then divide by two since you are paid twice per month. The
following example is for a full time employee:
$28.76/hour x 2080 hours/year = $59,820.80 yearly gross
$59,820.80 / 12 months = $4,985.07 monthly gross
$4,985.07 monthly gross x 0.0065 = $32.40 per month in dues
$32.40 / 2 = $16.20 in dues per paycheck
Hours of leave with pay (vacation, sick, FMLA) will be included in the calculation for dues deduction. Any leave
without pay will not be counted towards the dues payment.
What do other unions in Portland pay for dues?
Local 17 members pay the lowest dues of any union in the State of Washington, and our dues are significantly
lower than other union dues in Portland.
AFSCME: 1.77%
Laborers: 2.02%
Teamsters: 1.44%
Nurses (ONA): 1% + $75/year
SEIU: 1.7% + $28/year
What do I get for my money?
Local 17 provides professional union representatives skilled in contract negotiations, grievance handling,
mediation/arbitration, advocacy and labor relations. Our staff and members show leadership by building
relationships with Bureau Directors and Commissioners. As a full service organization, Local 17 has enhanced
communications, and organizing and lobbying efforts both in Portland and Salem. Recent achievements include:
Local 17 worked to defeat the Water & BES privatization ballot measure in May 2014; advocated successfully for
the COMP time amendment; and meets with the HR Director monthly to discuss workplace issues.