I worked for a 135 company and it was not mentioned until first week of indoc that pilots HAVE to pay dues regardless if you wanna be member or not.

Nowhere in my employment contract it was mentioned and because of a mistake with my address I never paid.

I left in the meantime and will join an ALPA carrier.
I am getting the bill now but I don't feel like paying since it was not mentioned in my contract.

Not sure if I am right. Can I reply to them that I will refuse to pay since it was not mentioned in the employment contract?

 

You took a job somewhere and didn't know it was union?

 

I was aware but not of the obligation to pay dues even when you choose not to be a member.

How can a union force you to pay if you don't want to be a member? Not to mention that the salary was low but THAT was something I signed for.

With Alpa at least its the first year free.

 

Yes, as a nonmember you can be compelled to pay an agency fee since you directly benefit from compensation and benefits negotiated in collective bargaining.

EDIT: I don't believe state "right to work" laws are applicable to RLA carriers.

 

Ok, thanks for the reply.

 

You can be subject to termination if you don't pay. That doesn't sound like an issue for you to worry about anymore. Collective bargaining agreements apply to you whether or not you decide to be a member. CBAs trump employment contracts in the areas covered. I have no idea if Teamsters would send your owed money to collections.

 

Don't pay? Don't pay and you get a visit from Uncle June is what happens

 

Uncle June from Teamsters LOL

 

If I had to guess, payment due will be held in abeyance until and if the former member is again represented.

So back in the day, before METO climbed up into this esteemed line of work, he parked cars at restaurants and various sporting events. Let's call the guy he worked for Octane. Octane had an SIC, Sta-Bil. A club you might get to sip drinks at for free sometimes after hours was also patronized by a then unknown actor when in town…Joey Seafood. Anyhow, you get the picture. Skip forward a bit and METO attends a union meeting for the purpose of hearing status reports, showing solidarity & so on for a cargo outfit negotiating their 1st contract. As the meeting concludes, the boys and their business agent reps adjourn to a nearby watering hole for further consultation. Need to be…respectful here, because for all I know he's still in the game. But who does METO run into, busy chatting it up with one of the local reps? Affirm, good ole Sta-Bil.