February 2025 – Dues Deduction Survey

Brothers & Sisters,

As the late Kobe Bryant said, “It’s the process of getting better every day and doing that for a period of years that then creates the masterpiece.”  Every year we should strive to be masters in our crafts, be better people, and be stewards and caretakers of our Local.

In 2024, we celebrated our 100th Anniversary and negotiated our biggest agreements with unprecedented success. These two agreements saw historic gains and wage increases not seen in four decades.

We also negotiated access to a 401k, which we are close to finalizing the details of so members can begin making voluntary contributions. The other historic change was securing language that gives the members the power to choose if you want your union dues deducted from your paychecks.

Many members have asked for this, and over many different bargaining cycles, our Local has submitted proposals to add this language, dating back decades. At last, we have prevailed. Union dues are a collective investment that ensures the union has the strength and resources needed to enforce contracts, handle grievances, hire legal experts, and secure strong collective bargaining agreements that improve wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Ultimately, dues deduction is meant to be more convenient for members; nothing more, nothing less. In order for this to become effective, a change to our bylaws is required. The decision to make this change is 100% up to you, the membership. I am asking each of you to participate in the survey and the process. We each have a commitment to our fellow union members and future members to be caretakers of the brotherhood. There is a significant difference between professing to be a good union member and acting on those values. Doing what is right and not what is convenient. Doing what is best for the greater good instead of any one of us individually. Being a good union member is more than a service pin, a shirt or a sticker on your hard hat.

There is no greater responsibility for union members than to get involved and speak up.  Before we schedule special meetings about dues deduction, we need your honest feedback on how you feel about dues deduction. Participating in this short survey helps determine if this is something we should continue exploring or if you want to keep our current system. This is your union, and we want to follow your lead.

CLICK LINK BELOW TO TAKE DUES DEDUCTION SURVEY:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y62QRCS

If the survey shows that members do not want to make this change, then no changes to the bylaws will be proposed and everything will stay the same. However, if the survey shows significant interest in dues deduction, we will propose the change at a General Membership Meeting. We will then look at scheduling a special called meeting on a Sunday to ensure that all members have a chance to attend and vote on a change this significant.

Our journey together will have challenges and won’t always be a straight path. However, we are determined to rise, and with that commitment, we will prevail.

In Solidarity, 

Stephan Davis
Business Manager
Financial Secretary