If you work under a union contract that contains a union security clause which requires you to be a union member as a condition of employment, the law provides that you may choose to become a non-member, service-fee payer instead. Individuals, who are non-member, service-fee payers pay an equivalent fee, which is a percentage of expenses spent by the Union related to collective bargaining, excluding the small percentage spent on non-representational activities

If you decide to become a non-member, service-fee payer, you must notify the Union in writing at 1645 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60612. Upon receipt of your notice, the Union will provide you with information about its calculations of service fees and about how to challenge the correctness of these calculations. 

For the year 2010, the Union=s Executive Board directed the Local 705 Certified Public Accountant to define the appropriate fee structure. As a result of the analysis it has been determined that 92.51 percent of the total expenses of Local Union 705 are chargeable to non-union service fee payers. This percentage is in effect as of January 2012 for adjusted rates.

By choosing to be a non-member, service fee payer, you do not have the right to vote on the terms of your contract, the right to participate in the development of contract proposals, the right to nominate and vote for Local Union or International Union Officers, the right to participate in strike votes or the right to numerous other benefits and discounts available only to union members.

Local 705 hopes that all of you will become active, involved members. Strong, active and informed members are essential to the strength of this Local Union. Non-membership weakens the union. In our democratic Union, the decision is yours.