Membership + Dues
All UW-Madison graduate students are eligible to join the TAA.
For questions, more information, or to update your membership information or dues payments, please contact the TAA Membership Secretary: TAAMembershipSec@gmail.com.
Where do my dues go?
When you pay dues, you are are funding our efforts to organize and advocate for all Graduate students at UW-Madison. Our union is self-funded, meaning that dues from members are our only source of funding; we are not supported by the university.
When the union wins raises, health care increases, and stipend adjustments, that is money that your dues are putting back in your pocket! The larger the number of dues paying members we have, the more seriously administration will take us.
Paying dues allows us to be affiliated with a national organization, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) that provides us with support. Your dues also allow us to bring more of your colleagues into the union, hold training and informational meetings about the union, rent an office space, organize social events, and more! If you are interested in the breakdown of where your dues payments are going, explore the pie charts below.
Your dues are divided into three main categories: Local dues, which go straight to the TAA; State dues, which support AFT-W; and National dues, which support AFT National. Keep scrolling for breakdowns of each category.
Dues Information
Dues are determined according to your gross annual pay from UW-Madison as stated on your appointment letter; the TAA does not collect dues during the months of July, August, or September.
Suggested monthly dues payments are structured as follows:
| Gross annual pay from UW: | Monthly Dues Amount (Oct.-June): | |
| Tier 1 | Unemployed/no tuition remission | $7.00 |
| Tier 2 | Gross pay <$10,240/yr | $15.00 |
| Tier 3 | Gross pay $10,240-$14,709/yr | $20.00 |
| Tier 4 | Gross pay $14,710-$16,864/yr | $30.00 |
| Tier 5 | Gross pay > $16,864/yr | $36.00 |
Dues will be drawn from your account around the 4th of each month. After three months of failed payments, your TAA membership will be terminated.
If you are a current or prospective member experiencing financial difficulties, please contact our Membership Secretary as we have a dues waiver option for those who cannot make the minimum monthly payment (which is $7/month, Oct.-June)
Note: Never send sensitive financial information via e-mail
Here are the breakdowns for each sub-category:
This is the breakdown for spending for the TAA, our graduate student local at UW Madison!
AFT-Wisconsin is the state chapter of our parent union, the American Federation of Teachers. The “staffing costs” on this pie chart include paying for staff organizers who help locals organize and provide trainings.
This is the breakdown for spending for AFT-National, the national unit of our parent union.