General information about membership:

MEMBERSHIP DUES
As of January 1, 2023

Basic Membership: $22.00 bi-weekly ($47.67 monthly)
Retired Members: $ 11.00 bi-weekly ($23.83 monthly)

As of January 1, 2024

Basic Membership: $25.00 bi-weekly ($54.17 monthly)
Retired Members: $ 12.50 bi-weekly ($27.08 monthly)

- Members using PayPal will pay an additional monthly service fee.
- Dues are in addition to the cost of any Union-sponsored product or service.

MEMBERS VS. NON-MEMBERS
The Union is only obligated to represent all employees without regard to membership in four very specific situations:

1. Contract Negotiations
2. Grievance and Arbitration (based on the merits of the individual case)
3. Weingarten/Investigatory Examinations
4. Formal Meetings/Discussions 

The Union has the right to require membership concerning a matter which falls outside of the areas listed above including performance-related matters or after a disciplinary action has been proposed against an employee.
 
Representational Terms and Costs

Membership Requirement: The Union has the right to require membership for certain representational matters and cases including appeals of performance appraisals, after discipline has been proposed, for complaints of discrimination, and for appeals of adverse actions before third party arbiters like the Merits Systems Protection Board. Non-members will be required to join the Union prior to representation.

Costs of Representation: If the Union accepts your request for representation, you may be responsible for some or all of the costs incurred by the Union during the course of representation, regardless of your membership status. Depending on the complexity of the case, the expected workload, and the need to secure legal counsel, the Union may charge a retainer fee to cover some or all of the costs of representation. The fee schedule below is the minimum charged for each type of case. The actual fee charged will depend on the merits and complexity of each case. The Union reserves the right to waive the fees below on a case-by-case basis, especially in cases where the individual is or will be experiencing a financial hardship:

  * Non-Adverse Action (counseling, letter of reprimand, suspension of 14 days or less, demotion): $650+

  * Adverse Action (suspension of 15 days or more, termination): $1300+

  * Discrimination Complaint: $650+

  * MSPB Appeal (initial appeal only, does not include petition for review): $1300+

Arbitration Costs and Attorney Fees: The Union has the right to determine whether to invoke arbitration concerning an employee complaint, and whether to seek legal help/assistance in processing a complaint via arbitration. That determination is based on several considerations. Primarily it is based on the merits of your case. Other considerations include whether the Union will incur any costs or fees, including attorney fees, in pursuing arbitration. Depending on the merits and strength of your individual case, the Union may choose not to pursue arbitration on a particular matter. Alternately, even when the Union determines that arbitration may be appropriate, we may request that the employee(s) covered by the matter in dispute pay none, some, or all of the costs associated with the arbitration regardless of whether you are a dues-paying member. 

Fee for Back-Pay Claims: In certain cases, LIUNA Local 1776 will charge a fee to process back-pay claims. The fee is 10% of the expected back-pay award, and it is to be paid up-front. This 10% is in addition to any other costs or fees, including attorney fees the Union may incur, that may be charged during the course of presenting a claim.

No Guarantee of Results: Seeking representation in a workplace matter is an important decision. Each situation is unique, and the ultimate disposition of a case depends on a number of different factors, including the individual merits of the case. The Union cannot guarantee a specific outcome, especially a favorable one, in any particular case. As such, LIUNA Local 1776 and its agents make no promises or guarantees in regard to the outcome of your individual case. Our prior successes do not guarantee a similar future outcome.

By submitting a membership application, you acknowledge the following:

1. Your submittal of this form will generate a Standard Form 1187. That form contains the following information:

PRIVACY ACT

Section 5525 of Title 5 United States Code (Allotments and Assignments of Pay) permits Federal agencies to collect this information. This completed form is used to request that labor organization dues be deducted from your pay and to notify your labor organization of the deduction. Completing this form is voluntary, but it may not be processed if all requested information is not provided.

This record may be disclosed outside your agency to: 1) the Department of the Treasury to make proper financial adjustments; 2) a Congressional office if you make an inquiry to that office related to this record; 3) a court or an appropriate Government agency if the Government is party to a legal suit; 4) an appropriate law enforcement agency if we become aware of a legal violation; 5) an organization which is a designated collection agent of a particular labor organization; and 6) other Federal agencies for management, statistical and other official functions (without your personal identification). 

Executive Order 9397 allows Federal agencies to use the social security number (SSN) as an individual identifier to avoid confusion caused by employees with the same or similar names. Supplying your SSN is voluntary, but failure to provide it, when it is used as the employee identification number, may mean that payroll deductions cannot be processed. 

Your agency shall provide an additional statement if it uses the information furnished on this form for purposes other than those mentioned above.

Section B - Authorization by Employee 

I hereby authorize the above-named agency to deduct from my pay each pay period, or the first full pay period of each month, the amount certified above as the regular dues of the (Name of Labor Organization): LIUNA; and to remit such amount to that labor organization in accordance with its arrangements with my employing agency. I further authorize any change in the amount to be deducted which is certified by the above named labor organization as a uniform change in its dues structure. 

I understand that this authorization, if for a biweekly deduction, will become effective the pay period following its receipt in the payroll office of my employing agency. I further understand that Standard Form 1188, Cancellation of Payroll Deductions for Labor Organization Dues, is available from my employing agency, and that I may cancel this authorization by filing Standard Form 1188 or other written cancellation request with the payroll office of my employing agency. Such cancellation will not be effective, however, until the first full pay period which begins on or after the next established cancellation date of the calendar year after the cancellation is received in the payroll office.

Contributions or gifts (including dues) to the labor organization shown at left are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be tax deductible under other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

2. Recruitment Incentive Acknowledgement - Gift Card (when available)

The individual below affirms he/she and their recruiter (if applicable) are employed in a bargaining unit covered by LIUNA Local 1776, or are designated organizers of Local 1776. In order to be eligible for organizing incentives a new member agrees to pay LIUNA Local 1776 dues for a minimum of one (1) year, or an amount equal to the amount of monthly dues effective at the time the individual joined LIUNA Local 1776 multiplied by twelve (12). Upon verification of dues being collected by the Union both the new member and their recruiter will be eligible to receive a monetary incentive for participating in a sanctioned LIUNA Local 1776 Organizing Campaign. Monies, if available, will be disbursed in the form of a pre-loaded gift-style card mailed to the individual’s personal email as provided herewith. All parties acknowledge that no goods or services have been received or provided in exchange for Union membership, that they acted voluntarily, and that monies received in the course of this transaction reflect a reimbursement of future membership dues to be collected by LIUNA Local 1776. 

Please direct questions/comments to:

Ben Banchs
Business Manager 
Phone: 1-800-569-5861 ext. 1001
Email: bbanchs@local1776.org