To join
the NYU unit, download a membership card and mail it to: ACT-UAW Local
7902 113 University Place 6th Floor New York, NY 10003
The bottom half of the membership card allows for automatic deduction
of dues/fees going forward. Past dues must be paid by check.
What is this card? It is a union membership card for ACT-UAW (UAW
Local 7902). The top portion of the card is for the local, and is the actual
membership portion. The second part is the dues checkoff authorization for our
records, and the bottom section is the copy we provide for the University's
records.
Do I have to sign it? Our contract requires all
NYU adjuncts who meet the contact-hour criteria to join the local or pay an
agency fee equivalent to the local's dues. The criteria are: 40 contact hours in
a year, or 75 hours of individual instruction per semester. The University is a
large place and does not always have the time to inform adjuncts of the benefits
available, so if you have questions about whether you qualify, and what benefits
are available to you, feel free to contact us.
How much are the dues
or fees and when do I have to pay them? Dues are 1.15 percent of gross
salary (e.g., for every $100 earned, dues are $1.15). Your dues (or the
equivalent in fees) can be deducted from your paycheck, or you can pay them
directly to the Local every month by check. You pay the dues or fees only during
months when you are working.
Where do the dues go, and for what
purpose? The money is spilt between our local (ACT-UAW, UAW Local 7902),
the UAW International, and our UAW Strike Fund. For more specific information on
how our dues money is used, check out the .
Our local uses
its portion of your dues to pay staff when volunteers are not available, to fund
organizing activities, and to pay for the legal support needed to enforce our
contract.
The UAW International spends money on such things as organizing
new members (like the adjunct faculty here at NYU and the New School), staffing,
and education and training programs.
The UAW Strike Fund, which is
currently over $800 million, is used to support members on strike by paying a
strike stipend, health insurance (if you currently receive it as part of your
employment compensation), and other strike related expenses. Only union members
who participate in a strike are eligible to collect strike benefits.
Is there an initiation fee? Yes, there is a $50 initiation
fee. Whether you join as a member or pay the equivalent fee, everyone pays the
same amount.
Why is it important to sign this card? Only
members can vote to elect officers, ratify contracts, and decide whether or not
to strike. Further, only members can become officers and participate in union
governance.
By forming our union, we have taken a big step in addressing
how the university treats its adjunct faculty. To be able to deal with the
University from a position of strength, we need a unified membership. The more
signed members we have, the stronger our contract remains. To sustain and
further develop meaningful reforms in how we are treated by NYU, we need a
strong union.
Didn't I sign up already? In the past, you might
have signed a petition or a card seeking to be represented by ACT-UAW. This is
not the same as signing a membership card and becoming a member of the union. It
only takes a moment to sign the membership card and the dues check-off
authorization.
We are very proud of our union and our contract. We look
forward to you becoming an active member of our young and vital union.
