LIUNA 1310

To opt out of LIUNA 1310 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.

LIUNA 1310 is the designated union for approximately 1,400 public and private sector workers in Eastern Pennsylvania.

For years, public employees in Pennsylvania have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like LIUNA 1310 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 LIUNA 1310 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 LIUNA 1310 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 LIUNA 1310 dues?

According to federal filings, LIUNA 1310 dues are as high as $647 per year.

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

LIUNA 1310 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 LIUNA 1310 is legally obligated to enforce the contract on behalf of all employees, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

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 LIUNA 1310.

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 LIUNA 1310 spend my dues money?

LIUNA 1310 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. LIUNA 1310 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 45-0582362. The most recent report can be found here.

LiUNA 1310

According to federal filings that the union must submit with the US Department of Labor, LiUNA 1310 collected $893,887 in 2022.

In that same year:

$6,000 was spent on political activities and lobbying.
$23,630 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$56,230 was paid to private attorneys and legal fees.

During 2022, the union paid 9 employees and officers. Business Manager Thomas Borum $150,844. The union also reported having $225,455 in spare cash.

The most recent reports filed by LIUNA 1310 are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

LIUNA Headquarters

According to federal filings that the union must submit with the US Department of Labor, LIUNA headquarters collected $95.4 million from local affiliated unions in 2022.

In that same year:

$12.5 million was spent on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$2.7 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$1.8 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel, including over $1 million at the Hilton in San Diego.
$2.5 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.

The LIUNA headquarters paid 238 employees in 2022, 131 of whom were paid six figures. LIUNA general president Terence O’Sullivan was paid $848,072.

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

Union officials are also required to file reports with the Dept. of Labor disclosing potential conflicts of interest related to LIUNA’s business dealings:

General president Terence O’Sullivan has regularly filed LM-30 reports disclosing that he serves on the board of directors of Ullico, Inc., a company that provides insurance, financial services, and administrative products to LIUNA. In 2022, he received compensation from Ullico amounting to $78,835.
Vice president Jon Davis has regularly filed LM-30 reportsdisclosing that he serves on the board of directors of BayCom Corp., which provides commercial banking services to LIUNA. In 2022, he received compensation from BayCom amounting to $17,000.