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They go to the union. The union spends them however they like.

Testify wrote:I had to give my card details when I joined the union...it's standard practice in most of the world.
Right-wing troll much?

Most of the world doesn't have credit cards like that.
Left wing troll much?

Testify wrote:They go to the union. The union spends them however they like.

No, a large amount goes into the security funds in order to finance strikes. That's why large union centrals are stronger than small ones when they negotiate the benefits package on the first few years after syndication. Other amounts are certainly spent on lobbying, and then the internal functionning.

When union management misuses funds, they are just as likely at being caugh as any other business.

I figure if they really want to pay dues, they can set up an automated check payment through online bill pay.. Most banks offer it. There is no need to have an auto withdrawl directly from a credit card or debit card. Maybe the union is too lazy to deal with the physical checks?

I dunno. And when people say "you need to be part of a union for a lot of jobs." They really mean you need to be part of a union for less than 3% of jobs. At least that is my reckoning by the statistics by the department of labour and industry, that about 3% of all people employed in the country actually belong to a union.

helgrenze wrote:
This is why some people are upset (bolded). Aren't union dues supposed to go for strike funds and such?

They're supposed to go to whatever the union wants.


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Kovnik Obama wrote:
No, a large amount goes into the security funds in order to finance strikes. That's why large union centrals are stronger than small ones when they negotiate the benefits package on the first few years after syndication. Other amounts are certainly spent on lobbying, and then the internal functionning.

When union management misuses funds, they are just as likely at being caugh as any other business.

But it isn't a misuse of funds if the union approves of the usage. It would be different if a union boss were embezzling, or otherwise misappropriating funds outside his authority.


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Shadowseer_Kim wrote:I figure if they really want to pay dues, they can set up an automated check payment through online bill pay.. Most banks offer it. There is no need to have an auto withdrawl directly from a credit card or debit card. Maybe the union is too lazy to deal with the physical checks?

It costs more money to process physical checks, and many banks charge for automated cheque payment for that reason.

Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
I dunno. And when people say "you need to be part of a union for a lot of jobs." They really mean you need to be part of a union for less than 3% of jobs. At least that is my reckoning by the statistics by the department of labour and industry, that about 3% of all people employed in the country actually belong to a union.

Yep.

Mwahahahaha! Details for direct debit is handing over private information. feth me, then every institution I deal with for any regular payments has complete control over my financials...

I mean, I get that requiring someone to join a union to work somewhere is bad, but this thing about "oh my god bank details" is just stupid.


In other news, employers shouldn't have any restriction on what accounts are to be paid into by employees. If I want a fixed some going into my mortgage, and another fixed sum going to the union, and the rest going to my savings account that's my business. Legislation that doesn't allow that is just wrong-headed, spite the unions anyway we can stuff.

Shadowseer_Kim wrote:I figure if they really want to pay dues, they can set up an automated check payment through online bill pay.. Most banks offer it. There is no need to have an auto withdrawl directly from a credit card or debit card.

Receiving automated payments is an absolute nightmare for any company dealing with large numbers fortnightly or monthly payments. The reconciliation for company initiated payment takes about 23 seconds - "please give me a list of every account that was rejected for lack of funds", and compare that to "please build a list of every payment that comes in over the next 14 days and check that against existing members to build a record of who has paid" - something that will likely require at least one full time staff member.

Then consider when fees go from $10.20 to $10.70 per pay - you have to go through every single payment and build a record of how short they are of their fees, and send letters telling them the increase is in place please $0.50 more per pay, and also send an additional pay for the 3 payments you made at the old amount.

Maybe the union is too lazy to deal with the physical checks?

The the rest of the world stares in horror when it remembers the US still uses physical cheques.

sebster wrote:

The the rest of the world stares in horror when it remembers the US still uses physical cheques.

I assume the world also stares in horror when it remembers that in the US you actually have to walk inside and talk to someone to get a sandwich instead of using touchscreens at the pump.

Trend setters.

PhantomViper wrote:

“Debbie Bence, president of the Plymouth-Canton Cafeteria Association, sent a letter to her union members on June 4 stating that the dues had to be paid as a condition of employment,”

This is the only controversial bit of these "news", provided that its true... Do you really HAVE to be a member of a union to have certain jobs in that part of the world?

In many places in America, yes. The union has a contract with the employer saying that ONLY union members may be employed there. So when you get hired, you get signed up with the union and have to pay union dues.

I am of two minds over this. Against... well, my one experience with a union job was when I was younger and worked in a union supermarket. Nominally I got paid $3/hour over minimum wage. But my union dues came out to $4 per hour. So I was taking home LESS than minimum wage... and paying taxes on MORE than minimum wage.

On the flip side... these past several years non-union companies have been making RECORD profits... by cutting their full-time staff to the bone and using a bunch of part-timers (at significantly less hourly pay than the full-timers they replaced, and without meaningful benefits either) to keep things moving. To be clear, this is not companies in danger of going out of business if they don't cut costs. This is companies that are perfectly healthy and profitable... earning even MORE profit by kicking employees to the curb. A union would put an end to that but quick.

If I were a member of the union in question... I'd tell the union they can kick me out when I fail to pay my dues. So long as the dues are paid, there is NO ISSUE, and they have no right to intrude on my bank account and TAKE it. And I would sue the ever-loving out of them if they tried to follow through.

Most ISP's insist on internet transfer, so when you get your internet you are 'handing over your credit card details'.

I find it easier to 'hand over my credit card details' when paying my energy bills, and sometimes my phone bill too.

There is no story here, it rewords something mundane in order to make it sound scandalous.

Its said BANK ACCOUNT information. Thats not a credit card.

Orlanth wrote: There is no story here, it rewords something mundane in order to make it sound scandalous.

This Union wants direct access to your checking account so they canr set up withdrawl payments. Basicly cutting you out of the payment proccess. What if they decide to raise fees without notice. You go to get some cash and find your account 100 short because they took more than you thought? This isnt you setting up a monthly CC payment or direct bank tansfer. They are doing it. They are also saying you will no longer be employed if you dont do it.

Frazzled wrote:Its said BANK ACCOUNT information. Thats not a credit card.

In the UK at least there is little real difference. Most of my monthly bills are paid by direct debit, which uses my bank account details.


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AustonT wrote:

sebster wrote:

The the rest of the world stares in horror when it remembers the US still uses physical cheques.

I assume the world also stares in horror when it remembers that in the US you actually have to walk inside and talk to someone to get a sandwich instead of using touchscreens at the pump.
Trend setters.

What?

Regardless of how you may fell about unions I don't think asking for bank information is appropriate. Send me a bill and let me pay it, just like everyone else.