Local Monthly (Window) Dues and working Dues
Local Monthly (Window) Dues
- The monthly dues you pay to your Union Local
- Your basic membership dues, which you pay regardless of whether or not you are working
- The dues that make you eligible to work for signatory contractors
- The dues that provide your Union Card, which you need to show on all jobs
In Wisconsin, nearly all members authorize the Regional Council to deduct one year’s worth of dues from their annual vacation check. By taking advantage of this deduction you don’t have to keep track of dues payments and you remain in good standing for the entire year. The deductions are forwarded directly to your Local, which helps your Local plan its yearly budget.
This annual dues authorization is not yet available in other areas of the Council. In our other five states, you must pay your dues online, in person or by mail. You can make it easier on yourself and your Local by paying many months in advance.
Working Dues
Working dues support the day-to-day operations of the Regional Council. Through payments that we forward for each member, working dues also support the operations of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
Working dues are a rate you pay for every hour you work for a signatory contractor. As of the effective date of 2015 wage rates, working dues were changed from 4% of gross taxable wage to 4% of gross hourly taxable wage at the straight time rate. This change reduced the amount of dues worked on overtime hours by moving from a straight percentage to a flat dollar amount. The actual dollar amount depends on your craft and where you work.
For most members, working dues are taken care of through a payroll deduction from your employer before you receive your paycheck. However, you are ultimately responsible for paying your own working dues. If your employer does not deduct working dues, you must submit the dues payment. Members who do not keep current on their working dues may be suspended.