UFCW Local 81 – Your Dues: Every Dollar Working for You
You are the reason we are here.
Your dues—as little as $6.95 a week—allow us to get you, on average, 26-31 percent more in benefits and wages than your non-union counterparts.
But that’s just the beginning. You get lots of direct services and added behind-the-scenes benefits through work done on behalf of you.
Some of The Benefits Your Dues Buy
- your negotiated collective bargaining agreement: pay, health and pension benefits, sick leave, vacations and holidays.
- grievances and arbitration support
- legal support
- secure and protected workplace servicing calls
- access to workers compensation resources when you are injured on the job
- education for shop stewards, health & safety committees and union members who are involved in protecting your rights
- education opportunities for you: a chance to improve your pay and position through classroom training, conferences and other opportunities
More Membership Advantages
- full-family health care plans
- retirement plans
- supplementary life insurance plans
- free dental services
- education scholarships for members and their children
- discounts on travel and consumer purchases
- support from occupational health and safety specialists
- union representatives who advocate for you
- processing assistance for Washington State unemployment
- assistance with Labor & Industries Compensation Board claims & appeals
- free legal advice
- personal financial planning for members nearing retirement
- credit counseling
- Members Emergency Fund to help members in crisis
Negotiation
We negotiate several continuing worker contracts each year, in addition to first-time collective agreements for new members. Tens of thousands of dollars are spent on negotiations each year—but the benefits to you are priceless.
Grievances
Your dues allow us to successfully resolve many member grievances each year—most before they reach the arbitration stage.
Arbitration
When filing a grievance doesn’t get the result you need, we represent you in the next step, arbitration. We help our members resolve disputes with their employer, including termination, job suspensions, unfair on-the-job treatment and other legal conflicts.
Workplace Servicing
We make thousands of workplace visits and phone calls each year to be sure our members are protected and secure in their jobs.
Education
Through your dues, our education department serves you in two key areas: training to help you develop skills to perform better and earn more; and education and resources to help our members protect your workplace rights.
We are constantly expanding programs and opportunities for both on-the-job and outside training. We provide a Washington State-approved 2-year apprentice program with worksite training and transferable college credits. And we are currently developing a Washington State college-degreed, 90-credit curriculum at reduced cost, with a work-flex-schedule that allows you to work training time into your busy work schedule.
We also offer options for offsite training—classes, sessions, seminars and conferences—to help you meet your personal and professional development goals, including training in:
- new member orientation
- shop stewardship
- grievance processing
- collective bargaining/contract negotiation
- organizing to recruit new union members
- political action
- communication & leadership skills
- tactics for dealing with difficult customers & managers
- apprenticeships/on-the-job opportunities
- degreed programs at Washington State accredited colleges
