Teamsters Local 170

To opt out of Teamsters Local 170 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.

Teamsters Local 170 is the designated union for over 4,500 public and private sector employees in Massachusetts.

For years, public employees in Massachusetts have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like Teamsters Local 170 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 Teamsters Local 170 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 Teamsters Local 170 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 my union dues?

According to recent federal filings, Teamsters Local 170 dues can be as high as $1,272 per year. In 2022, members paid an average of $721 in dues and fees.

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

Teamsters Local 170 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 Teamsters Local 170 is legally obligated to enforce the contract on behalf of all employees, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

However, keep in mind:

Although Teamsters Local 170 will continue to negotiate and enforce the collective bargaining agreement on your behalf, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law in 2019 specifying that unions can require non-members to pay for the “reasonable costs and fees” of union representation during grievance and arbitration proceedings

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 Teamsters Local 170.

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 in most states, they almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

How does Teamsters Local 170 spend my dues money?

Teamsters Local 170 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. Teamsters Local 170 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 04-1914280. The most recent report can be found here.

Teamsters Local 170

According to federal filings that the union must submit with the US Department of Labor, Teamsters 170 collected $2.9 million from members in 2022.

In that year alone:

$735,118 million was contributed to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to be spent on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$40,982 was spent by Teamsters 170 on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$76,208 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$169,147 was spent on private attorneys and arbitrators.

Teamsters 170 paid 17 employees in 2022, 5 of whom were paid six figures. Teamsters 170 business agent Jim Marks was paid $138,803.

Teamsters 170’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

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.