Teamsters Local 783

To opt out of Teamsters Local 783 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 requesting 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 783 is the designated union for approximately 3,800 Louisville Metro Government employees across several city departments. Some of these include public works, codes & regulations and Metro police department.

Those who find themselves in a union-represented workplace should know that Kentucky law protect public employees from being forced to financially support a union against their will. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME reaffirmed that all public employees have a constitutional right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.

You can opt out of union dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to Teamsters Local 783.

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.

If you do not hear anything back within a reasonable amount of time, contact the union again. If you still do not receive a response, contact us for assistance. Finally, if the union refuses to cancel your dues payments, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance.

How much are my union dues?

According to Teamsters Local 783’s federal filings, your dues amount is 2.25 to 2.5 times your base hourly rate per month. They can range from $120 to $1656 per year.

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

Yes. Teamsters Local 783 has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of employees in your workplace, meaning you are not allowed to negotiate your own compensation or handle your own grievances with your employer, nor can you hire another person or entity to represent you.

In exchange for this unusual benefit, Teamsters Local 783 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 your wages and any other terms of 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. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your wages and benefits are governed by the collective bargaining agreement and will remain unchanged if you opt out of Teamsters Local 783.

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 783 spend my dues money?

Teamsters Local 783 is a private organization with minimal obligations to disclose financial information to members.

The IRS requires unions’ 990 tax return to be a public document, and these can be found online at sites like this. Teamsters Local 783 reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 61-0336252. Here is the most recent 990 filed by Teamsters Local 783.

Additionally, Teamsters Local 783 is required to file annual financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor that provide more detailed information about the union’s finances, including how much it spends on certain political and lobbying activities.

Teamsters Local 783

In 2022, Teamsters Local 783 collected $1.5 million in union dues and fees.

In 2022 alone:

$362,345 was sent to 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.
$40,661 was spent on political activities and lobbying.
$29,075 was spent on legal services.

Teamsters Local 783 had 13 salaried employees in 2022 with 2 of whom receiving 6 figures.

The most recent LM2 reports filed by Teamsters Local 783 are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

Lastly, a portion of the dues paid by Teamsters 783 members also goes to support the national headquarters of Teamsters.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

The IBT headquarters collected $193 million from local affiliated unions in 2022.

In 2022 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.