The UA’s rules and regulations are designed to govern and control the activities of their members, both on and off the job – and the union defines that control in writing, in a very critical document – the union constitution.
Click on the sections below to learn more about what it means to be a UA member.
The union is serious about collecting money from members as the constitution states:
“The initiation fee for a person who is brought into membership in any Local Union of the United Association through organizing shall be not more than $200.00.”
“The dues of each member of a Local Union who has not reached the age of 65 shall not be less than thirty-one dollars ($31.00) per month.”
“Each member of a Local Union who performs work within the trade jurisdiction of the Local Union… shall pay a working assessment to the Local Union of not less than one-and-a-half percent (1.5%) of gross wages for each hour worked.”
— Local Union Funds, Sec. 128, Sec. 130.
The constitution spells out the “Offenses, Penalties, Trials, and Appeals” process of members who violate the union constitution.
“When a member of the United Association breaks his obligations to the United Association, or any of its Local Unions, or violates any of the laws of the United Association, or laws and working rules of any Local Union, charges may be preferred against him by any member of the United Association in good standing or any Local Union of the United Association that has personal knowledge of the offense committed.”
— Sec. 201 (a)
The union’s constitution restricts the freedom of their members and violations of these rules can and do result in disciplinary action, including fines, for their members. The fact remains that the only way to avoid having to work with these restrictions is to avoid working under a union.