Become a Member

Why do we pay dues?
 

• Dues are a contribution to the community that allows the community to function.
   

• Without money, we cannot do the work to improve our salaries.
   

• Members get to vote on ratifying contracts, run for office, and vote in officer elections. If people don't contribute money to the community, they don't get a say in the decisions that the community makes.

Where do our dues go?

• 0.6% (.006) of your base salary goes to the UPI Local:

- Mostly, dues pay for people's work. The UPI Local officers (not the chapter) are paid for their service and there are also UPI Local staff who keep accounting straight and do the event-planning work for statewide meetings.

- Dues also fund the Militancy Fund and the Legal Defense Fund.

• Affiliate Dues:

- A portion of members' dues goes to AFT, IFT, and the chapters' local labor council. IFT & AFT return some of these funds to the Local.

- There are IFT staff who help with organizing, negotiating, grievances, media coverage and legal questions. There are IFT offices in Springfield for people to lobby lawmakers and keep an eye on what the legislature is doing. Dues also pay for offices, computers and phones.

- All of this is replicated on the national level. AFT has lobbyists in Washington, D.C., and a legal team. There is also a dedicated higher education department.

- A portion goes to provide $1,000,000 liability insurance.

- A portion goes to provide members with $36,520 in Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

- A small portion goes to political activity, which members can choose to redirect to an educational fund.