Union Security Clause
Notice to Employees Subject to Union Security Clause

As employees working under the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 57, AFL-CIO contracts containing union security clauses, you are required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to the union. This is the only obligation under such union security clauses. Individuals who are members pay dues while individuals who are nonmembers pay an equivalent fee. This fee, which is authorized by law, is your fair share of sustaining your union’s programs in support of you and your co-workers, but nonmembers may file objections to funding expenditures that are nongermane to the collective bargaining process and thereby only be obligated to pay fees representing expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process. Individuals who choose to file such objections should, within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice, advice Local 57 in writing at P.O. Box 32, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338 to obtain further information as to how these fees are calculated. The objection should include the individual’s name, address, social security number, home and work telephone numbers and work location.

​

If an objector disagrees with the amount or calculation of the fees representing expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process, and wishes to challenge that calculation, such challenge should state the amount of further reduction sought and be delivered in writing to Local 57 at the above address within thirty (30) days of receipt of the information from Local 57. Local 57 will place the amount of additional reduction sought in an interest bearing escrow amount. The matter will be submitted to an arbitrator under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration hearing will be held within 120 days of receipt of the challenge. Challenges may be consolidated into a single hearing. Local 57 will pay the fees and costs of arbitration. If the arbitrator lowers the percentage of chargeable expenditures, the appropriate portion of the escrowed fees, with interest, will be returned to the challenger. If the arbitrator approves Local 57’s calculations, the escrowed money and interest will revert to Local 57.

​

In considering these matters, though, you should be aware that choosing to be a nonmember fee payor means you would not have the right to vote on terms of your contract, the right to participate in the development of contract proposals, the right to nominate and vote for officers of the local union, the right to attend the International Convention as a delegate, the right to participate in strike votes, and the right to other benefits available to members only.

​

Individuals who nevertheless elect to be nonmember fee payors may object to funding expenditures nongermane to the collective bargaining process. Examples of expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process are those made for the negotiation, enforcement and administration of collective bargaining agreements, meetings with employer and union representatives, proceedings on behalf of workers under the grievance procedure, including arbitration, servicing, internal union administration, and other matters related to the above activities. Examples of expenditures nongermane to the collective bargaining process are those made for political purposes, for general community service, for non-worker related legislative activities, for members only benefits and for certain affiliation costs.

​

Our union speaks through many voices — the voices of members from across Canada and the United States and from many types of work. There is one common theme — that we stand for justice and dignity for working people.

​