To Best see these images you will need to click on them.  As it reflects in the Union Meeting Minutes our current and past elected Business Manager went on record about the number of people on payroll.  As this spreadsheet shows prior to 2001 our average raise was 5.05% and since then 3.65%.  This has caused less money to go to wages and by extension less money to dues.  Our dues collecting algorithm is not the problem, our negotiation is.  A member told me long ago, "If they want more money get us more money!"  Simple but incredibly true.

When you look at this picture it shows what spreadsheets like "Excel" would show if you put in the average rate we negotiate moving into the future.  Though we might agree that 3.5% is good, our total package has in it items not factored by CPI.  Could you imagine negotiating for a car then finding out it had none of the features like the one they let you test drive.  What you don't see impacts you.

The reality is no dues increase works if we don't negotiate at a higher percentage.  But the rigid structure of "Total Package Dues" will cause us to ask for more dues more regularly while not encouraging our hall to negotiate better wages.  In 'Excel" the spreadsheet displays negative number in (parenthesis).  Based on the math agreed to by the Budget Committee which includes an average of... 

4.5Million hours

Members making over journeyman scale 

via a supervision or other agreement

Weighted average on apprentices

Current expenses at the Hall 

multiplied by 5% year over year

(average based on provided info)

Cost of Local 290 Leadership 

1 Business Manager (+40%)

1 Asst. Business Manager(+30%)

1 Dispatcher, 2 Organizers and

8 Business Agents (All +20%)