Teamsters 214

To opt out of Teamsters 214 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 and providing a copy to your payroll office.

Teamsters 214 is the designated union for local government employees across Michigan including public employees in Berrien County, Antrin County, Arenac County, Newago County, Muskegon County, Lapeer County, Kent County, Kalkaska County, Ogema County, Otsego County, City of Detroit, City of Marshal, City of Escanaba, City of Lansing, and City of Royal Oak.

The range of activities and causes which is funded by union dues is wide and often controversial. When the union is paying for causes and efforts which you oppose, then it is controlling your voice. Many are uncomfortable with this. A recent court decision reaffirmed that you have the final say about what causes you fund.

“States and public-sector unions may no longer extract [funds] from nonconsenting employees. . . . This procedure violates the First Amendment and cannot continue.” (Janus v. AFSCME, 2018).

Consequently, public employees may decline to pay these private organizations without losing their jobs or employer-provided benefits.

The best way to ensure the deductions stop is to submit a request to the union in writing.

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.

Because it has a financial interest in continuing to withhold dues from your pay, the union may contact you and attempt to persuade you to keep your membership. Their sales pitch may include untrue claims and scare tactics. It is a good idea to try to document any questionable claims made by union representatives. Do not be bullied! If you stand your ground, there is nothing the union can do to retaliate against you for opting out.

Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. Contact the union if the deductions continue more than a couple paychecks after you submit your resignation request.

Some unions have tricked employees into signing membership forms with fine print waiving their right to resign except during a short annual window period. If the union claims you signed such a form and therefore cannot cancel the dues deductions from your pay, ask to be provided with documentation that you ever signed such an agreement.

How much are Teamsters Local 214 dues?

Teamsters Local 214 does not publish its dues amount, but members of other Teamsters locals in Michigan can pay as much as $99-$146 per month, or up to $1,188-$1,752 per year.

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

Yes. Teamsters 214 has been empowered by the state to represent those in your workplace. Employees are not allowed to negotiate their own compensation or handle their own grievances with their employer, nor can they hire another person or entity to represent them.

In exchange for this unusual benefit, Teamsters 214 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 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. All provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and your employer will continue to govern your employment. Your wages, health benefits, retirement and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of Teamsters 214.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will still govern your employment, as a nonmember, the union may choose to prevent you from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings or voting in union elections, including contract ratification votes. Unions also commonly withhold any special “members-only” deals or discounts the union has arranged for 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 Teamsters 214 spend my dues money?

Teamsters Local 214

Teamsters 214 collected $2.5 million in dues and fees from its members in 2020, according to reports the union must file with the IRS.

In 2020 alone:

$661,998 went to affiliated organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C., to support its massive political, economic and social agenda. IBT regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$34,293 was spent on attorneys and other legal fees.
$1,232 was spent on travel for union staff.
$4,833 went towards union conferences and meetings.

Teamsters 214 paid at least 21 officers and employees in 2020, two of whom were paid six figures. President Joseph Valenti’s compensation was $162,146. Additionally, the union reported $273,316 in spare cash and savings.

Teamster 214’s most recent IRS 990 reports are available here.

A portion of the dues paid by Teamsters 214 members goes to support the Teamsters Joint Council 43.

Teamsters Joint Council 43

Joint Council 43 collected $1.5 million from its affiliated local unions in 2022, according to reports it files with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

That same year:

$139,842 was spent by the Joint Council on political activities and lobbying.
$41,677 was paid or contributed to a variety of outside organizations.
$63,079 was spent on attorneys and legal fees.

Joint Council 43 paid 26 officers and employees. Political director William Black received $95,574.

Teamsters Joint Council 43’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

A portion of the dues paid by Teamsters 214 members also goes to support the international union.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

According to federal filings that the union must submit with the US Department of Labor, the Teamsters headquarters collected $193 million from local affiliated unions in 2022.

In that year alone:

$9 million was spent by IBT on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$1.9 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$6 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff. This figure includes a $155,000 expense at the MGM Resort in Los Angeles.
$3.1 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.

IBT paid 766 employees in 2022, 189 of whom were paid six figures. Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien was paid $350,145.

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