QUESTIONS
And
Answers
On the
Proposed
Dues Increase
Prepared for the
Delegates to the
22nd Annual Convention
September 10-13, 2000
Syracuse, New York
Preface
This booklet is being provided to you as a resource to answer questions that members may have concerning the dues increase proposal. It provides in summary and detail what have been found to be the most frequently asked questions concerning the dues proposal.
Many times interactions with members concerning the dues proposal deal with those who are vigorously opposed to a dues increase. However, although these individuals are the most vocal, they are in the minority.
Recent polling done by SEIU, one of our internationals, showed that a sizable majority of the general membership of PEF understands the need for a dues increase, why PEF is proposing it, and why PEF supports it. The polling also shows that a constituency of 20-22% will always be opposed to a dues increase no matter how justified.
The constituency who are consistently opposed to a dues increase strongly correlate with those individuals who do not involve themselves in activities that have successfully generated strength in negotiations and in the political arena which has led to our successes building a better future for our members.
Please feel free to share this booklet with any PEF member who may have questions concerning the dues proposal.
Please contact PEF at 1-800-342-4306 if you have further questions.
The following resolution was supported by 90 percent of the PEF Executive Board on August 22, 2000.
The Chair moves that the Executive Board endorse and recommend to the Delegates that the union modify its dues structure effective April, 2001 to .9% of salary with no cap on earnings. Grade 38 employees will be capped at $900.00 annually, in consideration of their lack of job rate and longevity payments. All funds raised by this dues structure will be incorporated in PEF budgets approved by the Executive Board and will be accounted for annually in a written report to the membership. The funds apportioned to the Members' War Chest may not be spent outside of contract fight-back activities unless approved by a three-quarters vote of the Executive Board.