End Of "Dues Check-Off" Could Be The End For Transit Workers Union NY Local 100

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=5&aid=70233

FULL story & video both at link above.

Transit
End Of "Dues Check-Off" Could Be The End For Transit Workers Union
May 30, 2007

The transit worker’s union could be fighting for its survival after a punishment for its illegal strike more than a year and a half ago takes effect Friday. NY1’s Bobby Cuza filed the following report.



It's a system known as “dues check-off.” With every paycheck that NYC Transit sends its employees, it automatically deducts union dues, and sends that money directly to Transport Workers Union Local 100.

But effective June 1st, “dues check-off” is being revoked as punishment for the December 2005 strike.

"It has the potential and was intended to cripple our organization,” said Transit Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint.

Without “dues check-off,” the union will have to convince each individual worker to pay their dues voluntarily, whether by check, credit card or through an automatic payment program. So far only about half have pledged their commitment to pay, but Toussaint says they are still reaching out to many of the 35,000 workers.

"If people don't pay for union dues, then we won't have a union,” said one transit worker. “And if we don't have a union, we don't have a voice."

and read the collected works of Upton Sinclair.

I really do.

- If the union members are not willing to pay what the union asks, what does that day about the union and how its members perceive it.
- $20M/year? Seems awfully high to me.
- It was an illegal strike. Union leadership knew it. This seems like the kind of punishment that will strike home to them, much more so than a fine which does not impact them personally.