Questions and Answers for LA City Professionals on Contract Status, Agency Fees & Dues

MOUs 8 & 17 were certified as members of SEIU721 on November 23, 2009. At that time, all dues and agency fees ceased to be paid to EAA-IUPA Local 8000 and were held in escrow pending a legal agreement instructing the city to pay all dues and agency fees to SEIU721.
The Agency Shop Interim Agreement between SEIU 721, representing MOUs 8 & 17, and the City will stand only until a new contract is ratified by the members.
The pledge from SEIU 721’s President Bob Schoonover and Executive Board to city professionals regarding dues remains in effect:
“You won’t pay a penny more than your current .54% dues until you vote to approve a better contract with SEIU 721.”
Q: Do we still have a contract?
A: Yes. Our current MOU remains fully intact and enforceable until a new agreement is reached by our elected bargaining team and ratified by the membership.
Q: What is the current dues rate?
A: Our dues rate remains at the current rate of .54% until the membership votes to ratify a new and better contract. “Only you and your MOU 8 colleagues–and no one else–can vote on your contract.” – Letter on dues from President Schoonover.
Q: Why does my paystub say my dues are going to SEIU Local 347?
A: This is essentially an administrative mistake on the part of the Controller’s office–who expects to have it fixed no later than the May 5 paycheck. Your dues are being paid to SEIU Local 721. SEIU Local 347 was the former SEIU Local for the LA City membership until it merged with other SEIU locals in 2007 to create SEIU Local 721.
Q: What is the agency fee rate?
A: The agency fee amount is the same as the dues amount for MOU 8 & 17 members. The law mandates that the agency fee amount cannot be more than the union’s membership dues.
Q: What is an agency fee?
A: The term “agency fee” refers to the union’s ability to collect money from employees to pay for services like negotiating a contract and representing employees in grievances and arbitrations, and lobbying activities to foster collective bargaining negotiations or secure advocates.
Q: What is the difference between “fair share,” “agency shop,” and “agency fee?”
A: Fair share, agency shop, and agency fee are different terms for the same thing.
Q: Who must pay an agency fee?
A: If your position is covered by an exclusive representative (union) with an agency shop agreement and you are not a member of a union to which you pay union dues, you are required by law to pay an agency fee.
Q: How do employees pay the agency fee?
A: The agency fee will be collected through payroll deduction.
If you have further questions about this issue or any other around your representation by SEIU 721, please contact your Worksite Organizer Paul Kim at paul.kim@seiu721.org 213-280-0723, or call the Member Action Center at (877) 721-4YOU [4968].