To opt out of UAW 174 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 United Auto Workers (UAW) 174 is the designated union for approximately 2,300 employees in Michigan, including public sector personnel.
A private sector employee who disapproves of paying UAW 174 does not have the rights described below to end deductions. But the private sector employee who has a faith-based objection may be allowed to donate to charity instead of paying union dues as described here.
People employed in the public sector are also represented by UAW 174 and thus have a right to withdraw from paying union dues as described below.
For years, public employees in many states have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions 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 UAW 174 dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 UAW 174 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.
UAW 174 dues are not given as fixed dollar amounts, rather they are based on 2.5 hours of wages per month.
Yes. UAW 174 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, UAW 174 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.
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 UAW 174.
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.
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.
UAW 174 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. UAW 174 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 352169233.
UAW 174
According to federal filings that the union must submit with the US Department of Labor, UAW 174 collected $1.5 million in dues and fees during 2022.
In that same year:
- $1 million went to the UAW headquarters in Detroit, MI, to support its massive political, economic and social agenda. UAW regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
- $2,134 was paid or contributed to various controversial organizations.
- $10,765 was spent on private attorneys.
- $15,341 was spent on travel for union staff.
UAW 174 paid 30 officers and employees in 2022. The union’s Financial Secretary, Sheila Draper, received $75,014. The union also reported $460,472 in cash reserves.
Previous federal filings by UAW 174 can be seen here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.
A portion of the dues paid by members goes to support the UAW national headquarters.
UAW Headquarters
The UAW headquarters collected $181 million from local affiliated unions in 2022, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
That same year:
- $14.6 million was spent on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
- $1.2 million was paid in contributions to various organizations.
- $7.8 million was spent on hotels, airlines and travel expenses.
- $4.5 million was spent on attorneys and private consultants. This figure does not include the 10 attorneys on payroll, each earning an average of $171,300.
- $980,000 was spent on food and catering.
In 2022, UAW headquarters paid 729 officers and employees, 500 of whom were paid six figures. UAW vice president Cynthia Estrada received $403,300. The total amount spent on payroll was 29% of the union’s income.
UAW 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 UAW’s business dealings. Vice president Cynthia Estrada filed LM-30 reports in 2016 and 2015 disclosing that her spouse’s business received at total of $64,000 in compensation from UAW for providing leadership training to local union representatives.