Ithaca College

All the information contained herein is verifiable, sourced, and confirmed by conversations with a Resident Officer of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Albany NY.

Several emails and documents from the I.C. Union leadership state "Union membership and dues shall be a condition of employment." But this is NOT correct. All of us contingents have the option of being "non-member agency fee payer" aka "non-member fair share payer" aka "non-member objector."  This is but one segment of our "Beck rights" after a 1988 Supreme Court ruling. We have to pay, but we don't have to join.

Non-member Fair Share Payers still must pay a fee that is a bit less than dues, because of a deduction for Union political activity. You are still represented by the Union, and under the same contract with the I.C. Administration, but you cannot run for Union Office, you cannot vote in Union votes, and you cannot attend Union meetings - you are a non-member.

Notification Required: Another aspect of our "Beck rights"  is that the I.C. Union leadership is required by Federal Law to present this non-member option to you in detail, starting at least as far back as the preparation for the signup for the contract resolution vote April 6 & 7 in the Student Center Fishbowl. But the Union leadership failed to do so. Were they aware of the opt-out option? Yes, they were aware, because in the detailed Part Time Faculty agreement (link below), p. 2, UNION SECURITY heading, the paragraph C, which refers to our Beck rights option, is crossed out but legible. Although the non-member fair share payer option is not required to be included in the detailed negotiated contract (links below), it is a violation of Federal Law to tell you that "Union membership and dues shall be a condition of employment." Again, the Union is REQUIRED to offer us, in detail, the non-member option. When? When they get around to it? Not if they are continually telling us to join the Union or be fired. The I.C. Union form which we filled out and signed to be a Union member also makes no mention of our Beck rights.

Why would you not want to be a Union member? Maybe you don't feel comfortable being associated with the vitriolic rhetoric that the Union leaders have repeatedly directed at our I.C. administration.  Maybe you feel awkward with the Union's demonstrated lack of respect for our I.C. trustees (all devoted visionary volunteers). Maybe you are disgusted with having your legal rights to choose hidden from you, and now your trust in Union leadership has dissolved. Maybe you feel that this ill-guided attempt at forced solidarity is wretchedly poor leadership, and an indication of worse to come. Maybe you are disillusioned by the continual stream of uncorrected key misinformation. Maybe you're put off because the Union leaders have shown themselves to be immune to criticism, their standard response being "deny/attack." Maybe you realize that your Union vote really means diddly-squat/zilch/nada as evidenced by the recent Apr. 19 "election" of Union officers. Maybe you don't want to be associated with the repeated expressions of what many have felt to be hysterical, delusional, self-righteous Union leader behavior (I am trying to be nice here), finger on the trigger to make I.C. look bad in order to get what they want. Maybe you feel for good reason (as I do) that the Union has actually made your teaching situation worse than before. And maybe you just don't like to be a joiner.

Quit the Union: But, like me, you already signed up to be a Union member, for fear of being fired - are we stuck? No. We can send a resignation letter (sample below) with status change to "non-member agency fee payer." Send it certified, return receipt to: Chris Machanoff c/o SEIU Local 200 United, 731 James Street, Suite #300, P.O. Box 1130, Syracuse, NY 13201

But look, don't believe me. Here are reliable sources, and of course you can call the NLRB yourself. The NLRB has already stepped into this situation. FACT: You don't have to be a Union member (although you will still be paying a fair share fee) and you cannot be fired for choosing this option.

It was inevitable that someone would feel that "something just ain't right," do the research and give the correct information to everyone.  I have nothing against the Union leaders individually, and regard all I have met as esteemed good colleagues, great folks, and well-loved instructors. However, strange things possess people when they get ramped up together into some cause that they feel is just. It has happened to me. Yet, there exists the excellent possibility that some of us remain friendly, while still disagreeing vehemently. Blessings.
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**** NLRA Laws  - note section under "What are the rules about union dues?" parag. 3 : the Union obligation to inform us of our Beck rights to be non-members.
  NLRA Rules

Union Opt-out Letter Form - alternatively, you can write a very simple letter to the Union leadership stating you want to withdraw as Union member in favor of being a non-member fair share payer.
  Opt-out letter

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): Call them, they answer! (518) 431-4155 - Clinton & N. Pearl Sts, Albany, NY 12207

I.C. Union Signup form (no mention of our Beck rights, no option to be non-member fair share payer).
 IC Union Signup Form

I.C. Faculty Forward Union Contract Highlights - note last clause on page 2, implying "join or be fired."
Contract Highlights

Recent I.C. Faculty Forward Union email (4.20.17), no mention of our Beck rights, more "join or be fired."
I.C. Faculty Forward Letter 4.20.17

Detailed I.C. Part-Time Faculty contract (note pg. 2, UNION SECURITY, parag. C crossed out)
 Part Time Detailed Contract

Detailed I.C. Full-Time Faculty contract
 Full Time Detailed Contract