Notice: 2025 Local 1549 Membership Dues

AFSCME International Union determines the dues rate each year based on the average wage increase received by AFSCME members over the 12-month period ending July 31, 2024. Information on wage increases was collected from 82.32 % of AFSCME’s membership. That average increase was 3.8811%. Article IX, Section 7 of the International Union Constitution also requires this calculation to be audited and certified by an independent certified public accountant who is not otherwise connected with AFSCME. The audit has been completed and confirms the above percentages. The use of increases in pay, which per the AFSCME Constitution includes wage increases and bonuses, to calculate the minimum dues and per capita tax rates has been in place since 1979, after the delegates to the 1978 AFSCME Convention voted to adopt this process. The minimum dues and per capita rates are higher this year because on average, AFSCME affiliates received strong increases in pay. In very large part, this was facilitated by AFSCME leading the fight before Congress for the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which resulted in significant financial resources moving to public employers. These resources helped avoid catastrophic cuts in services, massive layoffs and permanent loss of employment. Now, the ARPA money is being used to fund pay raises and bonuses across the country.

Dues and per capita go toward providing adequate resources to fight for fair contracts and having a strong voice on the job, to organizing new members locally and around the country, and to making sure our voice is heard in city councils, state legislatures and Congress. Dues support fight-back efforts against unsafe working conditions, privatizations, layoffs and much more.

As you recall, in 2023 the local received a waiver to absorb the full dues increase and in 2024 the local requested a partial waiver. To maintain a strong local and prepare for the upcoming fights to protect our contracts and members, the local will not absorb this dues increase.

For 2025, the dues increase will be $1.65 per month. The new dues rate for Local 1549 full-time members beginning January 1, 2025, will be $81.38 per month paid through bi-weekly payroll deductions.

For members with regular work schedules of 20 or fewer, but more than 12 hours per week, the 2025 part-time minimum dues increase is $1.30 per month. The new dues rate for Local 1549 part-time members beginning January 1, 2025, will be $53.91 per month paid through bi-weekly payroll deductions.