Union dues
Why do we pay union dues?
Answer: Dues are no more than $1080 per physician per year. A lot goes into building a successful union campaign, conducting contract negotiations, and maintenance of a contract after its ratification with an employer. Each of these phases requires support from union staff and attorneys. Dues are a way of paying for all these needed services, and they're also a way of paying forward to the next physician group that Doctors Council will help to organize in the future, before they ratify their own contract. Dues begin only after we ratify a contract. If we aren't satisfied with all the terms of the contract, we don't have to vote for it. There are some ways for members who object to dues to opt out of paying them.
Dues are only paid once the membership agrees to a contract that includes a “union security clause.” If the membership believes that a contract doesn’t deliver over and above what dues cost then it doesn’t have to approve the contract.
Physicians do have a few options to opt out of paying full union dues, if they choose, including religious exemptions and as a 'Beck objector.' These allow a portion of dues to be redirected to charity or reduce the amount owed. Regardless of dues-paying status, though, all of our membership will benefit from the union contract.
Breakdown of dues based on clinical income:
$9,190.07 per year or less = $441.06 in dues per year
$9190.08 - $18,377.42 per year = $464.86 in dues per year
$18,377.43 - $49,623.74 per year = $798.61 in dues per year
$49,623.75 per year = $1,180.01 in dues per year