Vote on Dues Change

At the March 30, 2011 membership meeting, members approved a dramatically reduced budget for the upcoming year. Accordingly, membership also voted to approve a change to the dues structure that would be set dues for members at per capita dues rate + $10. We are forced to make this change to the dues structure we need a new system for collecting dues. We used to collect dues thanks to a provision of our contract. Now that the contract has been cancelled, the Governor-appointed Office of State Employee Relations (OSER) has instructed UW payroll to stop deducing dues from our paychecks.

We also needed a dues structure that would keep our union alive and active in the face of harsh political conditions. Membership decided that the new dues structure is one that will be a sustainable solution for the time being until we can change the shape of the political landscape. There’s still a significant amount of organizing that we need to do to get enough members to be a vibrant union (see below in Organizing Drive).

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW: The full membership needs to approve any change in our due structure. You need to print out a ballot (found here) and send it in or drop it off at the TAA office before Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 5 PM.

This change in structure may be a bit confusing, so we’ve prepared a short FAQ document (found here). If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please email Alex Hanna (alex.hanna@gmail.com) or Kevin Gibbons (kevinmgibbons@gmail.com).

UPDATE (4-11-11): You can drop off ballots to these people —
Karen Scott (Steward in German) – 866 Van Hise – mailbox in 818 Van Hise; please drop off by 2:15 on Wednesday
Adrienne Pagac (Steward in Sociology) – Monday, Social Science 7122
Lenora Hanson – 10-2 Tuesday at the University Club Bldg, 3rd Floor, Hex office