AFSCME Council 82

To opt out of AFSCME Council 82 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.

AFSCME Council 82 is the designated union for approximately 3,000 publicly employed law enforcement officers working in the State of New York.

For years, public employees in New York have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like AFSCME Council 82 to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME, public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.

The court ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated workers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and that public employees have the right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.

You can opt out of AFSCME Council 82 dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union

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.

In most cases, union dues are automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks. Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. If the deductions continue for more than a couple pay periods after submitting your opt-out request, contact the union.

Finally, keep in mind:

Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like AFSCME Council 82 sometimes place restrictions on when they will accept opt-out requests. If the union refuses to immediately cancel dues deductions from your pay, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance.

How much are AFSCME Council 82 dues?

According to federal filings, the cost of AFSCME Council 82 dues can range from $460 to $1008 per year. The average amount of dues paid by a member in 2022 was $792.

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

AFSCME Council 82 has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning it is impossible for workers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues.

The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and your employer will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment, and AFSCME Council 82 is legally obligated to enforce the contract on behalf of all employees, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

However, keep in mind:

Although AFSCME Council 82 will continue to negotiate and enforce the collective bargaining agreement on your behalf, the New York Legislature passed a law in 2019 specifying that unions are not obligated represent non-members in the following situations:

During questioning by their employer;
During non-contractual administrative or legal hearings; or
During any grievance or contractual process when the employee is allowed to proceed without union representation.

If you have any questions about your representation rights under the collective bargaining agreement, do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.

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

No. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of AFSCME Council 82.

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

While the terms of the contract will still govern your employment, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, voting for union officers or participating in contract ratification votes. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged 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.

How does AFSCME Council 82 spend my dues money?

AFSCME Council 82 is a private organization with minimal obligations to disclose financial information to members.

However, the IRS requires unions’ 990 tax return to be a public document, and these can be found online at sites like this. AFSCME Council 82 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 14-1509911. The most recent report can be seen here.

Additionally, AFSCME Council 82 is required to file annual financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor that provide more detailed information about the union’s finances, including how much it spends on certain political and lobbying activities.

AFSCME Council 82

According to filings with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, AFSCME Council 82 collected $2.5 million in union dues and fees in 2022.

In that same year:

$522,791 was sent to affiliated organizations like AFSCME International to support their massive political, economic and social agendas. AFSCME International regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$51,625 was sent to a variety of other organizations, many of which are ideologically driven.
$207,447 was spent on arbitration and legal services.
$69,730 was spent on hotels, airlines, and travel.

AFSCME Council 82 paid 14 officers and employees in 2022, seven of whom were paid six figures. General counsel Ennio Corsi received $182,074. The union currently holds a cash stockpile of $2.6 million in cash assets.

AFSCME Council 82’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

A portion of the dues paid by AFSCME Council 82 members goes to AFSCME International, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

AFSCME International

AFSCME collected $177 million from its members nationwide in 2022.

In that year alone:

$60 million was spent by AFSCME on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying. This included $200,000 paid to the far left organization Action for Liberation and $15,200 of campaign support for Stacey Abrams, a radical left political figure in Georgia.
$3.6 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations. This includes $100,000 donated to the Center For American Progress Action Fund, a left-wing organization that promotes radical social and economic policies.
$3.3 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff.
$976,875 was spent on attorneys and legal fees.
$193,310 was spent on food and catering.

AFSCME paid 486 employees in 2022, 224 of whom were paid six figures. AFSCME’s international president, Lee Saunders, was paid $384,155.

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