Montgomery College FAQ: You Union, Your Membership

Right now, as we bargain our first contract, we have begun to sign people up for membership in the union. Signing a union membership card is the single most important thing you can do to build the strength of your union at this time. Even if you signed an Authorization Card and voted for the union, you still must sign a Membership Card to become a member of your union.

High levels of union membership send a message to the College about our determination to make changes in our workplace, and will force the College to listen to us. Strong, demonstrative support for the union is how we will win what we want at the bargaining table -- such as higher rates of pay, a voice in decision-making, job security, and health and other benefits.

Q. If I sign this membership card today, when will I start paying union dues?

A. You will not pay dues until after the contract is signed and ratified by the part-time faculty at Montgomery College, and you have begun to receive the benefits contained in the contract. Through the ratification process you will be able to see what gains you have won in the contract, and vote to accept or reject that contract, before paying any union dues. 

Q. How much will the dues be?

A. Union dues will be $28 a month for the months you teach at Montgomery College. There is a reduced dues amount of $20 a month for those earning under $5,000 annually from their part-time teaching at Montgomery College.

Q. How will I pay?

A. Your bargaining committee has proposed to the college allowing you to pay your dues through payroll deduction. As an alternative, you will be able to send a lump sum check to Local 500.

Q. How much will membership dues be if I only teach one semester per academic year?

A. Dues will be $28 a month for the months you are teaching only (or $20 a month if your total annual earnings from part-time teaching at Montgomery College is below $5,000). When you are not receiving a paycheck from Montgomery College, you will not pay anything to the union.

Q. Will I have to join the union?

A. Your bargaining committee has proposed having a "fair share" agreement at Montgomery College. Such an agreement exists in both the AAUP and AFSCME contracts. This agreement would require bargaining unit members to either belong to the union, or to make a contribution to the union equal to the proportional cost of providing representation. All part-time faculty members are represented by the union and receive the benefits negotiated in the contract. In addition, the union is required by law to provide representation to all bargaining unit faculty, regardless of membership status. Therefore, the costs of that representation are shared among all.

If you choose not to join the union, you will pay an "agency fee" to cover the cost of representation by the union. This fee is currently 82% of the union membership fee. The fee is reset each year, based on an outside audit of the union's finances to determine what percentage of the union's budget actually goes to representation costs.

Q. Will I have to pay an initiation fee?

A. The initiation fee of $15 is waived for individuals employed by Montgomery College at the time of the first contract ratification. Thereafter new employees will be charged the one-time initiation fee.

Q. What are the advantages of membership over "agency fee?"

A. Strength is in numbers. High levels of membership will put pressure on the College to give us what we want, now and into the future. The leverage power of the adjunct union depends on being able to show Montgomery College strong support for the union through membership.

On an individual level, union members can take part in internal union elections and run for union office. In future contract ratification votes only union members will be able to take part.

There are also many discounts and advantage programs available to union members through the Union Plus program, including legal services, discounted car insurance rates, discounted tax preparation service, discounted home heating oil (average savings of $200 - $300 annually), up to 25% discounts on car rentals, health savings program, health club discounts and many more. For details go to www.unionplus.org.

Q. What is COPE, and why should I sign up for it?

A. COPE is our committee on political education. Through COPE the union raises voluntary dollars to help elect political candidates supportive of the interests of our members, and to drive from office those who are not. The union raises these dollars independently of union dues, because we do not believe it is appropriate to use dues dollars to contribute to partisan political races.

Your contribution will help build your political strength in dealing with the County Executive and County Council over funding for your contract. It will be money well spent. Contributions made to COPE can be canceled at any time.