ATU Local 757

To opt out of ATU Local 757 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.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757 is the designated union for approximately 5,000 transit drivers employed by Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon.

For years, public employees in Oregon could be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like ATU Local 757 to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), 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 ATU Local 757 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 many 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 ATU Local 757 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 my ATU Local 757 dues?

According to federal filings, ATU Local 757’s dues range from $43 to over $900 per year. The average amount of dues paid by a member in 2022 was $604.

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

Yes. ATU Local 757 has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning you are not allowed to negotiate your own compensation or handle your own grievances with your employer, nor can you hire another person or entity to represent you.

In exchange for this unusual benefit ATU Local 757 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 your wages and any other terms of employment. 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. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your wages and benefits are governed by the collective bargaining agreement and will remain unchanged if you opt out of ATU Local 757. Meanwhile, your insurance, retirement and other benefits are not subject to collective bargaining – these are set by the state and will be unaffected if you opt out of ATU Local 757.

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 in most states, they almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

How does ATU Local 757 spend my dues money?

ATU Local 757 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. ATU Local 757 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 930111775.

Additionally, ATU Local 757 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.

ATU Local 757

In fiscal year 2022, ATU Local 757 collected $2.2 million in dues and fees from members.

In 2022 alone:

$936,897 went to affiliated organizations like the national ATU to support their massive political, economic and social agendas. ATU regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$183,938 was spent political activities and lobbying.
$14,541 was spent on legal services.

ATU Local 757 paid 25 officers and employees in 2022, five of whom received a six figures. President Shirley Block received $147,877. According to the 2022 report, the union also had stockpiled $2.8 million in cash assets, $200,000 of which were accrued during fiscal year 2022.

ATU Local 757’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

ATU

In fiscal year 2022, ATU national headquarters collected $29.8 million from members and local affiliates.

In 2022 alone:

$2.4 million was spent on political activities and lobbying.
$189,309 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$1,125,696 was spent on legal and consulting services.
$698,263 was spent on hotels, airfare, and travel expenses.
$11,937 was spent on food and catering.

ATU paid 83 officers and employees in 2022, 52 of whom were paid six figures. ATU International president John Costa received $341,819. The union also reported a stockpile of $3.2 million in cash assets.

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