PSE of WA/SEIU 1948

To opt out of PSE of WA/SEIU 1948 dues:

Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
Print the form. If you check the appropriate box requesting a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
Sign and date the form.
Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.

Public School Employees of Washington (PSE SEIU 1948) is the designated union for classified school employees across Washington and non-instructional employees at several colleges. PSE SEIU 1948 represents over 24,000 employees.

For years, public employees in Washington have been forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment, allowing unions to take their members for granted. However, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will. Janus v. AFSCME, 585 US (2018)

The decision found,

“The First Amendment is violated when money is taken from nonconsenting employees for a public-sector union; employees must choose to support the union before anything is taken from them. Accordingly, neither an agency fee nor any other form of payment to a public-sector union may be deducted from an employee, nor may any other attempt be made to collect such a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to pay.”

Consequently, public employees may decline to pay these private organizations without losing their jobs or employer-provided benefits.

It is important to know that PSE may continue to automatically withhold dues from employees pay even if they never signed up for membership in the first place. The best way to ensure the deductions stop is to submit a request to the union in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I send my resignation to the union?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

Because it has a financial interest in continuing to withhold dues from your pay, the union may contact you and attempt to persuade you to keep your membership. Their sales pitch may include untrue claims and scare tactics. It is a good idea to try to document any questionable claims made by union representatives. Do not be bullied! If you stand your ground, there is nothing the union can do to retaliate against you for opting out.

Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. Contact the union if the deductions continue more than a couple paychecks after you submit your resignation request.

PSE/SEIU 1948 has tricked some employees into signing membership forms with fine print waiving their right to resign except during a short annual window period. If the union claims you signed such a form and therefore cannot cancel the dues deductions from your pay, ask to be provided with documentation that you ever signed such an agreement and contact OptOutToday.com for assistance.

How much are PSE dues?

According to federal filings, PSE/SEIU 1948 deducts 1.75% of its members’ wages in union dues. On average members paid the union $537 in 2023.

Will the union continue to represent me if I opt out?

Yes. PSE/SEIU 1948 is the union designated to represent employees in your workplace. Employees are not allowed to negotiate their own compensation or handle their own grievances with their employer, nor can they hire another person or entity to represent them.

In exchange for this unusual benefit, PSE/SEIU 1948 is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

Consequently, the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and your employer will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment and the union will continue to represent you in grievances, contract enforcement, discipline assistance or other proceedings governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

Will I lose wages, health care, retirement or other benefits if I opt out?

No. All provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and your employer will continue to govern your employment. Your wages, health benefits, retirement and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of PSE/SEIU 1948.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will still govern your employment, as a nonmember, the union may choose to prevent you from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings or voting in union elections, including contract ratification votes. Unions also commonly withhold any special “members-only” deals or discounts the union has arranged for with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.

Why do people opt out of the union?

People have many reasons for not wanting to support the union. Some simply do not believe the services the union provides are worth the dues it charges. Others may find the union’s one-size-fits-all agenda does not serve them well because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or they believe their effectiveness is undercompensated. Some resent the union’s role in enabling and defending underperforming employees. Many find the union’s political activity and use of dues to advance partisan causes, candidates and ideology distasteful. Still others believe that union officials are corrupt and unaccountable to their membership.

Unions representing public employees are not governed by the usual consumer protection or anti-trust laws, so abuses are common. Unions can charge whatever they wish. They can spend dues money on anything they want. Often, they do not have to disclose how dues money is spent to members. They can speak for employees without consulting or informing them. They can injure some members’ interests while advancing the interests of others. Unions even have the ability to prevent employees from getting help in their workplace from other sources. They are not governed by any obligation to provide quality service, and almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

Sometimes people have a faith-based objection to unions’ expenditures. To learn more about some of the major public unions’ expenditures in light of common faith beliefs, click here.

How does PSE/SEIU 1948 spend my dues money?

PSE/SEIU 1948

PSE/SEIU 1948 collected $13.2 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2023, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

In 2023 alone:

$2.3 million went to the SEIU National Headquarters to support its massive political, economic and social agenda. The SEIU National Headquarters regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$225,849 went to the SEIU WA State Council to support its massive political, economic and social agenda. The SEIU WA State Council regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$618,813 was spent by PSE/SEIU 1948 on political activity and lobbying.
$49,500 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations
$626,158 was spent on airfare, hotels, conference centers, and travel for union staff
- $122,792 at the Marriott Seattle Airport
- $107,803 for food services
$90,181 was spent on private consultants and legal services.

PSE/SEIU 1948 paid 78 officers and employees in 2023, 29 of whom were paid six figures. PSE Executive Director, George Dockins was paid $200,584.

PSE/SEIU 1948 has a stock pile of cash worth $1.2 million

PSE/SEIU 1948’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

A portion of the dues paid by PSE/SEIU 1948 members go to support the SEIU Washington State Council.

SEIU Washington State Council

The SEIU Washington State Council collected $777,000 from its local affiliates in 2022.

In that same year:

$50,529 was spent by the State Council on political activity and lobbying. Because it made major political contributions for years and failed to register and report as a political action committee as required by law, the Council was charged to pay up to $250,000 in penalties and fees in 2019.
$456,324 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$35,275 was spent on private attorneys.

SEIU WA State Council’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Lastly, a portion of the dues paid by SEIU PSE/SEIU 1948 members also go to support the national SEIU headquarters in Washington, D.C.

SEIU National Headquarters

The SEIU national headquarters collected $239 million from its affiliates in 2022. In that year alone:

$63.5 million was spent on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$4.5 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$6.3 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff. SEIU’s hotel expenses included a $805,000 bill from the Hilton in Washington DC.
$36 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.
$63,217 was spent on food and catering.

SEIU national headquarters paid 496 employees in 2022, 309 of whom were paid six figures. SEIU’s International President, Mary Kay Henry, was paid $289,587.

SEIU National Headquarters’ most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Can I get more copies of the PSE dues cancellation forms to share?

Yes. You can download and print copies of the PSE dues cancellation form here.