Teamsters Newsletter

Inside Our Current Newsletter

• Ken Coleman writes "Why Join a Union?"
• Heros in Kodiak 
• 2010 North Slope Construction
• Wayne Craft, From Trainee to Trainer 
• Yukon Disaster Relief
• About Our Shop Stewards
• Members Celebrate 35+ years
• Local Welcomes Jerry South, Business Representative
• and more!

See Newsletter >>

Dues Information

General Dues Information

The function of the Dues Office is to collect and record the dues revenue paid by the members of General Teamsters Local 959.

All monthly dues, supplemental working dues, initiation fees, and other fees, paid to Local 959 are deposited into the Local Union's general fund. These monies are used to provide for the infrastructure of our Local Union, by paying the expenses incurred in the day-to-day representation of our members, including, but not limited to:

• Payment of costs associated with the negotiation of labor agreements that outline the rights and benefits of bargaining unit members;
• Payment of fees generated by grievance handling and arbitrations;
• Payment of the day-to-day costs for the support of business representatives and the administrative team who operate the Local statewide;
• Payment of utilities for building maintenance.

A percentage of the dues and fees collected is sent to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). The IBT, in turn, offers support to our Local Union in such areas as organizing, education, publicity, strike, and other benefits.

The Dues Office offers several ways to remit payment for dues and/or fees:

1. Pay at any of the five Local 959 offices statewide with personal checks, debit/credit cards (in Anchorage or Fairbanks only), money orders, or cash. We accept Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit or debit cards. Some offices have an after hour drop box for your convenience.
2. Mail in your payment to any of the five office locations. Please include your ledger number on your payment.
3. Call the Anchorage or Fairbanks Dues Offices to make a payment via Visa, MasterCard, or Discovery debit or credit cards over the phone.
4. Sign up with a "Bill Pay" system with your bank to have your dues deducted from your account and sent to the Dues Office. Please include the ledger number on the check.
5. As a convenience to our members, the Union has made arrangements with many employers for the automatic transfer of monthly dues through payroll deduction. You may request a deduction authorization form from the Dues Office.

Monthly Dues

Monthly dues are required while you are in Teamster-represented employment. To remain a member in good standing, dues must be paid on or before the last business day of the current month. The rate is calculated as follows:

• If you earn over $11.00 per hour, your rate is 2.5 times your hourly earnings rate, rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
• If you earn $11.00 per hour or less, your rate is 2.0 times your hourly earnings rate and rounded to the nearest dollar.
• If you work more than 24 hours in a month, you owe at the full "working" dues rate.
• If you work 24 hours or less in the month, you owe dues at the $21 "non-working" dues rate (or your normal dues rate, whichever is lower).

Suspension

If you are more than three months behind in monthly dues, your membership will be suspended. To reinstate your membership, you will owe a $100 reinstatement fee, all back dues for months worked, and three months dues going forward. When your membership is suspended, you will lose your start date for bidding on non-construction work through the Hiring Hall, your out-of-work date for bidding construction calls, and you will forfeit your place on any other special skills hiring lists.

Supplemental (Working) Dues

Supplemental Union dues are calculated as a percentage of gross wages at the rate of 1.9%, or a phase-in formula is in place for newly organized groups. Supplemental dues are generally deducted from a member's pay and forwarded to the Union by the employer.

Initiation Fee

Effective November 1, 2008, a one-time fee is charged as the initiation fee to join the Union. If you work in the construction industry, this fee is due by the fifteenth day of work. For non-construction industries, it is due by the 31st day after beginning Teamster-represented employment. The initiation fee rate is dependent upon the first job a prospective member works. The prospective member will not enjoy full membership privileges until the initiation is paid in full.

Honorable Withdrawal

When a member becomes unemployed within the jurisdiction of Teamsters Local 959, the member shall be issued an honorable withdrawal card upon request. Taking an honorable withdrawal severs your dues responsibility and your membership privileges. In addition, you will lose your start date for bidding on non-construction work and your out-of-work date for bidding on construction jobs.

To take a withdrawal, you will need to fill out a form and be current with your dues. You may resume your membership at any time by "depositing" your withdrawal and paying monthly dues once again.