MPEC/AFT Local 6197

To opt out of MPEC/AFT Local 6197 dues:

1. Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
2. On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
3. Print the form. If you check the appropriate box about needing a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
4. Sign and date the form.
5. Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.

The Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC)/AFT Local 6197 is the designated union for approximately 5,000 state employees in Maryland.

For years, public employees in Maryland have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like MPEC 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.

You can opt out of MPEC 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.

Keep in mind:

Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like MPEC 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.

Additionally, the State of Maryland encourages their employees to contact the Central Payroll Bureau (CPB) if the union fails to process their opt-out request. You can learn more about how to cancel your deductions through CPB here.

How much are MPEC dues?

MPEC 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. MPEC 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, MPEC 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 employer-provided 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 MPEC.

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.

When can I opt out of my union?

Many unions allow opt outs at various times throughout the year. However, in their union membership contracts, a number of unions have stipulated certain times during the year (“windows”) when they will allow or process opt-out requests.

MPEC has specified an opt-out window ranging from August 1^st to the 31^st. Although this is the timeframe that the union has specified for processing opt-outs, you can certainly fill-out an opt-out request at Opt Out Today any time throughout the year.

How does the MPEC spend my dues money?

MPEC 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. MPEC reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 91-1942805.

MPEC/AFT Local 6197

According to federal filings submitted to the IRS, MPEC collected $941,492 during the 2021 tax year.

That same year:

$568,147 was paid or contributed to affiliate organizations.
$126,573 was spent on legal fees and services.
$1,136 was spent on travel expenses for union employees.
$838,395 was reported by the union in cash assets.

MPEC’s most recent 990 reports are available here.

American Federation of Teachers

According to federal filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, the AFT collected $212 million from its members in fiscal year 2022.

In that same year:

$35.8 million was spent by AFT on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$7.1 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$3.9 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff.
$10 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.
$211,000 was spent on food and catering.

AFT paid 385 officers and employees in 2022, 251 of whom were paid six figures. AFT president Rhonda Weingarten received $487,000.

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