BUTTONMAN74 said:look,if somebody feels like they don't/did'nt need it for protection,think of it this way,like an insurrace policy,better to have & not need,that to need & not have ,isn't it?
With all the opinions that have floated around these boards for/against becoming Teamsters, this qoute above is neither. It is an observation. In this dog eat dog , me me me attitude generation, it is far better to have something and never need it, than to need something and never have it.
As far as dues or initiations, dues are always 2 &1/2 hours of your pay once a month, that equates to $53 right now going to $54 in June. Initiation in my local is $500 which would probably be waived for all existing members and only required of new hires in the future. My local also has a returnable $100 orientation fee. You pay the $100 and attend about 3 or 4 orientation meetings to familiarize yourself about the union and the working relationship with the involved companies. If you attend all the meetings the $100 is returned to you. If you don't attend then the $100 goes into the general fund. Dues and initiation fees are tax deductable.
As far as who will do the negotiating for you, it will be done by the Teamsters negotiating panal and not "elected" employees from the company. All the employees will do is voice thier concerns, needs, and wants to the negotiating panal and they will do the rest until everybody finds a happy place that they can be comfortable about.