IFPTE Local 195

To opt out of IFPTE Local 195 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.

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 195 is the designated union for approximately 10,000 state employees in New Jersey.

For years, public employees in New Jersey have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like IFPTE Local 195 to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent 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 IFPTE Local 195 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 IFPTE Local 195 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 IFPTE Local 195 Dues?

IFPTE Local 195 does not publicly disclose its dues amount, but dues can typically range from several hundred to over $1,000 per year.

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

Yes. IFPTE Local 195 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.

In exchange for the monopoly on this particular service, IFPTE Local 195  is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

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. 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  IFPTE Local 195. 

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.

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 IFPTE Local 195 spend my dues money?

IFPTE Local 195 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. IFPTE Local 195 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 22-6063003.

IFPTE Local 195

According to federal filings with the department of labor, IFPTE Local 195 collected $1.9 million in tax year 2020. In that same year:

$346,841 went to affiliated organizations like IFPTE Headquarters to support their massive political, economic and social agendas. IFPTE regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$90,705 was spent on attorneys and legal fees.
$39,957 was spent on hotels, airlines, and other travel expenses.
$36,933 was spent on conferences, conventions and meetings.

Local 195 employed 21 officers and employees in 2020, four of whom were paid six figures. President Timothy Rudolph received $212,784. The union currently holds a cash stockpile of $144,000 in cash assets.

IFPTE Local 195’s most recent 990 reports are available here.

IFPTE Headquarters

IFPTE Headquarters collected $5.3 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2022, according to reports it must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

In that same year:

$320,255 was spent by IFPTE on political activity and lobbying.
$109,110 was spent on attorneys and private consultants.

IFPTE paid 30 employees in fiscal year 2022, 16 of whom were paid six figures. IFPTE president Matthew Biggs was paid $209,210.

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