Home < Policies, Employee and Labor Relations < Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Q. As a dues paying member, once I have established no effort in the bargaining unit for which I’ve signed up to pay dues, am I automatically dropped from paying dues?
A. No, but how your payments continue depends upon the union you have signed on as a dues paying member. If you are a dues paying member of UPTE your dues will continue until you take affirmative action to cease paying dues even though you are no longer in a bargaining unit represented by UPTE. For all other unions should you leave the bargaining unit your dues payments are not discontinued but rather no dues are taken because you no longer have earning in the bargaining unit.
Q. If an employee's percent of effort is below 50% (i.e. works part time) does the employee have to pay an agency fee?
A. Yes, but the exclusive representative may, at their option, have a lower agency fee specifically designed for part-time workers.
Q. What if an employee is appointed to a position for a short duration and that position is represented by a union, does that employee have to pay the fee? (e.g. an employee is appointed for three months per year - does he or she have to pay for three months, even though the employee won't be getting the union benefits that a career or long-term employee would get?)
A. Yes. Even though the person is in a position covered by an exclusive representative (union) for only a short period of time, that person is covered by wage ranges negotiated by the University and Union, and therefore, must pay the agency fee while in the position.
Q. Is the agency fee amount based on the employee's percent of effort in that particular job (i.e. 60% effort, 60% payment)?
A. All unions have requested that an agency fee be taken only from earnings within their particular bargaining unit. The practice of taking a full agency fee from the total 100% effort ceased in late 2001.
Q. If I have a split appointment (i.e. half clerical unit and half service unit) what portion of my salary will be the basis for agency fee? Will the agency fee for my appointment in one bargaining unit be based only on the wages coming from that appointment?
A. Yes. If you hold a split appointment represented by two unions, you will pay agency fee based on earnings within each of the bargaining units in which you hold an appointment.
Q. What if I am a dues payer in a 100% position covered by the Clerical unit and then I take a 100% position covered by another union, will I continue to pay dues to CUE?
A. No. Your dues will cease as you are now 100% represented by another exclusive representative (union).
Q. If I have a split appointment (i.e., half clerical unit and half technical unit) and I am a dues paying member of UPTE, will I automatically become a dues paying member of CUE?
A. No. You must sign up for CUE dues in order to become a dues paying member. Under this scenario, you will continue to pay dues to UPTE and agency fee to CUE.
Q. If a union collects a flat dollar fee instead of a percentage of pay, will an employee have to pay the full flat dollar amount even if they have less than a full-time appointment in the unit?
A. Yes. An employee will be required to pay the same fee regardless of appointment unless his or her exclusive representative requests a different agency fee structure to handle this situation.
Q. If a union elects a flat dollar fee for agency fee, and an employee has two appointments covered by the same bargaining unit (occurs primarily in the Technical Unit) will the employee have to pay the fee twice? What if the appointments are on two different campuses?
A. The employee will pay an agency fee once for multiple appointments covered by the same union. Most appointments between campuses are faculty appointments that are not subject to agency fees. Sometimes a nurse will work for more than one campus. In that case, the nurse’s primary campus is responsible for collecting the agency fee.
Q. How will employees be treated who have split appointments? Example: a 100% Principal Analyst IV who teaches a class for the department two quarters each year. The Principal Analyst appointment is reduced to 67% to accommodate a 33% Lecturer appointment. Will this employee be assessed the agency fee on the 33% even though the majority of the appointment is non-represented?
A. Yes.
Q. What if an employee has insufficient earnings to cover the dues / agency fee in a given month because of other deduction commitments with higher priority, will the deduction be taken from future checks?
A. No, if there is not enough money then no deduction will be taken.
Q. What if an employee has more deductions than actual wages in a given month (as a result of a medical plan, legal plan, garnishments and other deductions), what will happen to agency fee payments?
A. Pre-tax items and taxes will come first. Absent agreement with the exclusive representative, the University will make a decision on the priority of deductions.
Q. What happens if I separate University service and return a year later will my dues payment start up again?
A. It depends. If you separate University service and are rehired into a position covered by the union in which you have signed up to pay dues, your dues automatically reinstate.
