Your Questions Answered: Dues

January 2013

Q: When do we start paying dues if we join UNAC/UHCP?

A: No one pays any dues at all until after we negotiate a contract and a majority of us vote to approve it. If we’re not satisfied with the agreement, we can vote “No” without paying any dues at all. If we win a contract that improves patient care and working conditions for RNs, we can vote “Yes,” and only then will dues begin.

Q: How much will we pay in dues?

A: Dues are based on the average hourly rate of nurses at the hospital. Typically, UNAC/UHCP nurses pay about 1% per month, or a little less than two hours of pay a month.

Q: Where do our dues go?

A: We’ll keep a portion of our dues to run our own independent affiliate. Another portion will go to the UNAC/UHCP State Office, to support the representation, legal, communications, research and political expertise that will protect our contract and our patients.

Q: What can our dues help us achieve?

A: Compare Two Hospitals:

1. WITH DUES, GUARANTEED BY UNION CONTRACT:

• Patient Safety Protections
• A Voice in Patient Care Decisions
• Respect for Nurses
• Better Working Conditions for Nurses
• Regular Raises and Better Benefits
• Protections Against Arbitrary Discipline and Favoritism
• Job Security Protections

2. NO DUES, NO CONTRACT AND NO GUARANTEES:

• Unsafe Staffing
• No Voice for RNs in Patient Care Decisions
• No Respect for Nurses
• Unsafe and Unpredictable Working Conditions
• No Regular Raises/”Merit Pay” Based on Favoritism
• Arbitrary Discipline With No Remedy
• “At Will” Employment: RNs Can Be Fired at Any Time With No Remedy

Click here to download and print a two-page leaflet with this information.