New Members, Union Dues, and Being a Signed Member
Welcome to the over 600 new members from the beginning of this year! We are truly excited for you to join AESES because of your employment with the University of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg or St. Andrew’s College.
Now that you are a member, you might have some questions about the union dues that are listed on your pay statement. Here’s the story behind how these dues were introduced, what it means to be a signed member and why they contribute to the strength of a union.
Union dues are deducted automatically from every unionized worker’s pay according to a legal precedent set in 1946 called the Rand Formula. The case involved a strike at a Ford auto manufacturing plant in Windsor, Ontario, by the United Auto Workers. Canadian Court Justice Ivan Rand acted as arbitrator in resolving the issues of the strike. As part of his remedies in the dispute, he established this practice of automatic deduction of dues from the wages of all workers in order to pay the union collectively. Prior to his decision, only signed union members paid dues, but non-members who did not pay still benefited from the union’s negotiated contract. Furthermore, the union had to approach signed members individually to collect dues monthly.
New AESES employees are often asked to become a signed member, and the distinction of signing membership may not be immediately clear. All AESES employees benefit from the provisions of the Collective Agreements negotiated with the employers, and therefore pay union dues, automatically deducted from their pay. Signed membership, however, is voluntary. Signing allows the member to participate fully in union activities (attend certain Association events, such as the annual Members’ Day Lunch, Children’s Winter Holiday Extravaganza, Spring and Fall Education Seminars, and the Annual General Meeting), hold roles on committees, and vote on collective decisions. This distinction ultimately derives from the Rand Formula and the precedent set in 1946.
AESES members currently contribute 1.00% of their gross pay as union dues, as per AESES By-Law 4.1. This rate is among the lowest in Canada. These dues are the way in which members of our bargaining unit collectively fund the work and functions of the union. Your dues provide the necessary funds to retain legal counsel for grievances and arbitration, and to provide education to members. AESES has created a substantial Defence Fund in order to support economic action and to cover legal costs that may arise in our ongoing efforts to defend the rights of our members.
If you are interested in becoming a signed member, please visit our membership information page and submit a membership form.