A: Excellent first question, and its very simple. Either download the form from the JOIN US button above, print, fill out, sign and send in Interoffice Mail to MCSU President Liz Brandenburg, OR... Contact your Shop Steward and they will quickly pay you a visit to talk and answer questions and provide you with the form to fill out. The membership form will take about 2 minutes to complete, or may be completed at your convenience and returned later. Once you complete the form you can return it to your Shop Steward who puts it in for processing; but from the moment you sign your form, you are considered a dues paying member in good standing! Several weeks later you will receive your official membership card in the mail from AFSCME.
A: Another Good Question! Well, you wouldn't buy insurance after your home burns down, so why wait until you have a problem to join the Union! Most people feel—if they do not have a problem now, why bother? But suddenly when there is a problem, the Union is who they turn to for help first, because the Union is the one who is often able to help them find a resolution. After a Union representative helps someone and helps them with a problem, many often wish to become more active to help change policy, conditions or help others. Many wish to become ACTIVE in their job and have a say, a vote and contribute. Why should you join the Union?? Well... why SHOULDN'T you Join the Union?
A: You may not be aware of this, but the Union works hard for you behind the scenes. We work on many aspects you may not be aware of to ensure you have a safe and healthy and constructive work environment and are treated fairly. We represent you for all Collective Bargaining purposes. All the Union asks in return that you join us and sign a card and pay the dues to support our efforts and your union. Joining the Union is participating and supporting the RIGHTS you expect in the workplace for equal pay and treatment for your hard work. The Union is also there to protect you in bad times to negotiate terms regarding Furloughs or to assist in disciplinary measures and help advise when there are disputes. The Merit and COLA salary increases you receive are negotiated by the Union with Management. Annual Leave, EAP funds and other benefits are also negotiated as well, including certain conditions for Shift Pay, Overtime and Compensations.
Our contract terms are very fair, but could always be improved upon. With more members, and a bigger VOICE, we can add more details to the contract for negotiation, resulting in more benefits and support for our members! Being an active dues-paying member is having a VOICE in your employment terms and conditions.
A: Yes. By law, all Bargaining Unit employees are covered under the Union Contract terms and conditions whether they pay union dues or not. The Right to Fair Representation is law. Non-paying members can get representation and advice as easily as any paying member and there is no difference in efforts made or in advice given. The only difference is this: The actual dues paying card-carrying Members get an active voice to have input to decisions done with Management by casting votes, to hold a union office or position, or to serve on committee's when the Union is asked for its input. The actual dues paying members help support the Union presence. They ensure that the Union stays effective and active by adding their support and membership.
Dues paying Members also get access to special money-saving AFSCME discounts offered ONLY to active Union Members such as discounts on groceries, movies, and travel among many other offers. Active members get an active voice and the chance to help make change where change is needed.
A: If you would rather get the minimal benefits free, then that is your decision and we do not hold it against anyone. We shall always represent and be there for you. But you won't be able to vote or attend vote meetings, you won't be able to hold an office and you won't be eligible for any of the AFSCME discounts offered only to members.
The Union exists and can only exist because people get together and work hard to achieve a balance and fairness that is maintained in solidarity. That maintenance needs people like you, and it needs dues support to keep the operation of the Union operational. We would hope you would like to be a part of that achievement. Active Membership is as much or as little as you wish to be a participant, and you get to lend your voice to issues. The Union needs and wants Active members to vote, to serve and to bring issues forward so that everyone can have a fair and equal workplace.
A: The best first step is to come to our regular monthly meetings held during lunch hours. We post calendars of meetings on this web site and we meet on various campuses once a month or conduct video conferencing on several campus locations so as many as possible may participate. You can meet the officers and stewards representing you, hear or present any problems, and there is free discussion on committees and needs for help in the Union. There are many aspects people can become involved in, from newsletters to web site content, to promotions of new memberships and many other activities. Just stop by and say Hello. Even if you are not yet a signed up member of the Union and are considering joining, you are welcome to come check us out and have your questions answered directly. Alternately, you are welcome to contact a Shop Steward or Union Executive Board member and ask for more information. We are glad to answer questions and meet with you privately and individually if you prefer.
A: No…we are not paid, not a cent. That's correct – read it again – your Union Executive board members, Shop Stewards and other representatives are NOT PAID ONE DIME for this work we do. Every officer in the Union, from your Local Union President to the Shop Stewards and Webmaster are all VOLUNTEERS and do this of our own accord. Why? Because we believe and feel most strongly that everyone who works hard deserves to be treated equally and fairly and be properly paid for their work. We want to make sure everyone is treated fairly and has a voice, and no one is mistreated or taken advantage of. We want to make sure good work conditions and environments stay that way, and when problems arise we want to make sure they are resolved professionally and fairly. Whether it is by mistake or deliberately, you should know that mistreatment and mistakes in the workplace can happen to anyone at anytime. The Union is there for YOU if it happens to ensure it is corrected and does not happen again.
A: The Union uses the monies paid to fund business operations and activities the Union does for its members; for attending Local or International conferences and training; or for providing food, awards, and for conducting meetings and general union business. Spending is generally voted upon by Executive Board and regular union members in Monthly Open Session Meetings. The Union also collects donated Leave Hours every year that is put into a Union Leave Bank for use by stewards and executive board members for Union business, training or arbitrations. All monies not used in a month are banked and saved by the Union for use at later times as needed for legal fees, approved operations or arbitration costs. If the Union must go to court on behalf of a grievance, monies banked from dues will help pay for that. The dues you pay are sent to support AFSCME International, Council 67 of the State of Maryland, and your Local here at the College. Use of Union Monies and Leave can only be authorized by a full Executive Board and a Vote by the Membership. YOU get a vote on how your money gets used by the Union. Trustees of the Union conduct audits routinely.
A: No. Your dues support your local union. While it is true that AFSCME does support various political and lobby events, the membership dues paid by members do NOT go to that exclusive Political support unless you CHOOSE for it to. AFSCME has set up a P.E.O.P.L.E. fund which takes in separate support funding exclusively for political purposes. This is VOLUNTARY in contribution and, if you choose, you can be provided a card for that support funding. If AFSCME does not support your political interests, rest assured that your monies paid for membership dues go to supporting the operations of the International, the State council of AFSCME and to YOUR Union. But that dues money is NOT directed exclusively to the lobbying or Political actions of AFSCME. Membership Dues are used for Daily Union Business and Operations, Arbitrations and Training. The separate P.E.O.P.L.E. funding goes to lobby support and political activities. So if you disagree with AFSCME's larger choices of lobbying support, understand that your dues support your Union interests and operations, and not larger political agendas.
A: It breaks down to about $1.17 or so per day to be an active member of the Union. Dues are automatically deducted every pay period. All you do is fill out the authorization form and sign the card provided to you by your shop steward, and return that card to your shop steward for processing. Check the current membership form or ask your shop steward for exact costs to date.
A: Well the Union is sorry to hear of your hardship, and would hope you could find an alternative, because a Union Membership is like having an insurance policy. If you should need or wish to have your vote counted on an issue, it would be unfortunate to not have your voice contribute. A membership is not expensive to keep and maintain. But we also understand that during difficult times, we all must make sacrifices.
If you need to withdraw your membership understand the following: When you signed your Union membership card you became committed to a length of time for that membership. The only way you can be released is if you send notice to the Union President AND certified letter notice to Council 67 between the dates of Sept. 1st thru Sept. 15th of each calendar year. Follow the instructions from your Contract, Section 10.4a for complete details to notify the Council, which states:
Payroll deduction of dues can be canceled only by an employee's individual written notice to the Union via certified mail postmarked from the first through the fifteenth day of September of each year. The employee's certified mail is to be addressed to: Executive Director - AFSCME Council 67, 1410 Bush Street, Suite A, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. AFSCME will then notify the College of any canceled memberships and provide the employees' original notices of resignation to the Director of Employee Engagement & Labor Relations no later than the twenty-fifth day of September of each year.
We must receive your written notice during that time. There are no other withdrawal dates during the year that can be honored by AFSCME council mandate. That is the only time you may withdraw your membership and have your Dues deductions end. Just like you only have a certain time frame to adjust your Insurance and Benefits every year, you may only withdraw from the Union one time in a calendar year. But even if you have to withdraw your active support, always know you may call the Union for assistance in any problem or for advice anytime, and we hope that when your circumstances improve you will be back and join us actively again.
A: No, it isn't saying that at all. It is saying that you want the working environment that you have and enjoy to continue and not change or be disrupted. While Unions cannot guarantee individual operations or policy in each work area, globally they can fairly act if it violates the contract terms. It's GREAT that you have not had any problems, and in a lot of respects you have the Union to thank for a lot of that, because we work with your managers and supervisors to ensure a good work place for everyone. But if conditions or duties get changed—the Union can then step in and make sure that Management is not exceeding its Rights. If you have a situation in your workplace that is in violation of the Law, or the Union contract, then the Union can step in and ensure it gets taken care of, or guide you in how to properly proceed. But we do not monitor your work area, if there is a problem then it is up to YOU to bring it to our attention for help. Being a member of a Union means not being ALONE or powerless at your workplace. It means you are giving yourself options and avenues to use at your benefit.
A: You are protected under Federal Laws from any discrimination or action towards you from joining or not joining a Union, and the Labor officials who enforce that policy take any discrimination instance very seriously to any employer who does so or permits such union busting tactics to take place.
You should know that Management cannot discriminate against you in any way whatsoever for your affiliation with, or participation in, the Union or for your filing a complaint against them thru the Union. There is no reason they should discriminate against you, and if they do—you have the Union to help guide you and clear things up on your behalf.
If a manager has directly told you the "right thing to do" would be to not join the Union or not call on the Union —that is potentially ILLEGAL and unethical, and we need to hear about it. Being a member of a labor union and the right and freedom to do so if you choose is guaranteed and protected by law, and there can be no discrimination whatsoever for participation. It is the same if bias is held against you for race or religion, political or personal choices and affiliations – it is your business only, and your right and freedom that should not play any part in the conditions of your job.
A: Most problems at work are simple to fix and stem from miscommunications and misunderstandings. But time is usually critical when a problem arises for certain offenses of serious nature you have a time frame in which to call for Union assistance and file a grievance. If you have a problem and you do not know if the Union can help or if it's a real problem that should be remedied, you are free to e-mail or call your local Shop Steward to discuss your problem. They will take the time to hear you and listen and investigate your claim, and they will tell you directly if you have a Union or Grievance issue or not. If you do have a grievance issue, they will try to resolve it informally, and if they cannot then they will help you bring it to the Union for official action and resolve.
A: The MC Staff Union is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, (AFSCME). The MC Staff Union is Union Local 2380 specifically set forth and established for the MC Staff workers of Montgomery College in the late 1990's. The MC Staff Union Local 2380, is under the establishment and jurisdiction of AFSCME Council 67 in the State of Maryland. All MC Staff Union members are members of AFSCME, an International Labor Union. AFSCME is an organized and well respected Labor Union for drivers, school and college employees, some police and security workers, public utility, water and sewer workers, Nurses, Health Care and hospital workers, State employees, County employees, Government employees and so on. For complete details you may visit the Council 67 web site or the AFSCME international web site.
A: Your shop stewards are listed in the Contact Us link above. You will find all the information you need to contact them directly. You will need to contact the Shop Steward who handles your area or campus.
A: Of course! For a seat on the Executive board, you will have to wait until the annual vote comes around for any changes in offices, and then organize a campaign to muster up votes. For Shop Steward training, you will need to send in a request to the Union and we will notify you when the next training session begins (they are held usually twice per year – and you get Union Business Leave to attend!). The Union will take care of your Leave during trainings, so you don't have to use any Annual or Sick leave to take the training and become certified as a Shop Steward. You can also fill a seat as an alternate Shop Steward if a permanent one is unavailable in your area.