SEIU 503

To opt out of SEIU 503 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 about needing 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.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SEIU 503 has arbitrarily decided to only allow license-exempt family child care providers to opt out during a 15-day period each year. The 15-day window is different for each provider and is based on the date you first signed an SEIU 503 membership form.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 503 is the designated union for public services and care providers, representing 72,000 people across Oregon.

For years, license-exempt family child care providers were required to pay union dues to SEIU 503 as a condition of employment and the state automatically deducted union dues from providers’ state paychecks.

However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2014 decision in Harris v. Quinn, license-exempt family child care providers can now demand that SEIU 503 cease withholding union dues/fees from their state paychecks.

The court referred to the requirement for partial-public employees like license-exempt family child care providers to pay union dues as a money-making “scheme” for the union and ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated providers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I have to do in order to get the SEIU to stop deducting dues from my paychecks?

License-exempt family child care providers who wish to opt out of paying dues to support SEIU 503 need to complete the form above and mail it to:

Brian Rudiger, Executive Director SEIU 503
C/O Freedom Foundation
P.O. Box 18146
Salem, OR 97305

How much are SEIU Local 503 dues?

According to federal filings, union dues for SEIU 503 are 1.7% of members’ gross wages, plus a flat fee of $2.75 per month. In 2022, the average member paid $634 in dues.

Can I still work for state-paid clients in the Employment Related Day Care Program and receive state reimbursements if I opt out of paying dues to SEIU 503?

Yes. Under state law, the union contract for license-exempt family child care providers is binding on all providers in the state, regardless of whether they want to be union represented and regardless of whether they choose to pay union dues. Opting out of paying dues will in no way affect your ability to serve state-paid clients or receive reimbursements from the state.

If I stop paying dues to the union, will I still receive the same wages and benefits specified in SEIU 503’s contract with the state?

Yes. SEIU 503 has arranged to be the “exclusive bargaining representative” for all license-exempt family child care providers in the state, meaning that it is impossible for providers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues. Your state reimbursement rates and benefits will be the same whether you are a member of the union or not.

If I stop paying dues, will I still be able to attend the training provided by the Department of Human Services and the Office of Child Care through the Oregon Registry Online?

Yes. The training is paid for by the state, not the union, and is available to license-exempt family child care providers regardless of membership or non-membership in SEIU 503.

How will my relationship with the union change if I resign my membership in SEIU 503 and stop paying dues?

While the terms of SEIU 503’s contract will still apply to you and your relationship with your client and the state will remain unchanged as a nonmember of SEIU 503, you will no longer be able to participate in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, participating in contract ratification votes or voting for union officers.

How does SEIU 503 spend my dues money?

SEIU 503

SEIU 503 collected $28.6 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2022, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

In 2022 alone:

$5.4 million went to the SEIU headquarters in Washington, D.C. to support its massive political, economic and social agenda. SEIU regularly supports a host of controversial organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which received $50,000 from the SEIU headquarters in 2019.
$2.1 million was spent by SEIU 503 on political activity and lobbying.
$81,100 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$135,927 was spent on meeting venues and travel expenses.
$497,542 was spent on attorneys and private consultants.
$68,603 was spent on food and catering.

SEIU 503 paid 211 officers and employees in 2022, 50 of whom were paid six figures. Executive director Melissa Unger received $134,030.

SEIU 503 has a cash stockpile of $4.9 million, of which $1.9 million was accumulated just in the year 2022.

SEIU 503’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

A portion of the dues paid by SEIU 503 members goes to support the SEIU Oregon State Council.

SEIU Oregon State Council

The State Council collected $190,879 from its local affiliates in fiscal year 2022.

In 2022:

$48,395 million was spent by the State Council on political activity and lobbying
Legislative Director Kathleen Shriver was paid $95,152.
The State Council reported having $515,499 in cash reserves.

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

Lastly, a portion of the dues paid by SEIU 503 members goes to support the SEIU headquarters.

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.