(Bumped. – promoted by kestrel9000)
On Wednesday the Vermont senate passed the “fair share” bill 24-5, requiring non-union members to pay agency fees in return for the benefits they receive from union services such as contract negotiations and contract administration.
VT Digger Article
(My apologies if someone else has reported this already on GMD, and I somehow missed it).
Currently, “grandfathered” employees are exempted from paying for these services while other non-union members pay a portion (85%) of the total union dues amount, in compensation for the services they receive.
Essentially, Vermont has been acting like a “right to work” (for less) state with respect to these grandfathered employees, allowing them to benefit from the system without paying for it.
As a state employee and VSEA member, I’m ok with other employees declining to join the union if that’s their choice. But I don’t think it’s fair that the rest of us pay our fair share while others contribute nothing, while receiving the same benefits and services.
Thank you Vermont Senate, for recognizing this by passing the fair share bill. Please follow their lead, Representatives, and correct this injustice.
I don’t know- so I’m asking- can anyone say whether or not this (seemingly small but ultimately very significant) victory is the result of the work of the controversial new organizing approach, or the efforts of VSEA lobbyists, or if this was more a foregone conclution or something pushed by other unions…
who benefit from a union shop whatever the job should pay if they benefit from collective bargaining, or go work somewhere else. Difficult to believe this was ever the case.
So, these “grandfathered” employees… how does that work? If they join the union for some reason, say to get an advantage in a dispute with management, are they no longer grandfathered? Or can they drop out of the union once the dispute is over and go back to being grandfathered?
In answer to niiru, the free riders receive representation right now. They don’t have to join the union. That’s the issue. Why do they get representation for paying nothing, while others pay a nominal fee to get representation and a host of other benefits? Ask a grandfathered member who has been jammed up if they appreciated the representation they received.
Management loves baiting these grandfathered members to raise their ire, as it’s the perfect divide-and-conquer atmosphere to create.
Representation at the workplace is just as important as representation at the State House or in DC.
But did not ask grandfathered coworkers in my state office if they were at least glad that the dues weren’t made retroactive for the duration of their state employment.