FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
[Interim Dues Structure Ratification Notice]
[Interim Dues Structure]
[Interim Planning Budget]
[Accountability & Transparency]
[Ratification Vote & Timeframes]
[Union Membership]
INTERIM DUES STRUCTURE RATIFICATION NOTICE

1) What are the interim dues?

2) Why are we doing this now?

3) What are the key points I should know about this dues structure?

4) Where can I get more information - what's next?
1) What are the interim dues?
The Interim Council is proposing an interim dues structure of 0.3% of salary, which will apply to the salaries of bargaining unit members who choose to join the Union. For the interim dues structure to become official it must be ratified by the bargaining unit* through a vote. Ballots will go out by work e-mail on July 9 and will be due by 8 p.m. (EDT) July 21.
  *The term “bargaining unit” refers to all employees in a given work setting who have union representation. For GAO, the bargaining unit encompasses all analysts (PDP, Band I, IIA, and IIB), which includes, but are not limited to: accountants, communications analysts, economists; methodologists, specialists, and statisticians.
2) Why are we doing this now?
First, and most importantly, these dues will allow us to more quickly start paying our own way instead of relying on the dues of members of other unions affiliated with IFPTE, such as the Congressional Research Service. Second, setting up an interim dues structure (and signing up members) now will speed up the process of holding elections for a permanent governing body for the Union after our Constitution is ratified later this year. Although the entire bargaining unit will vote on the Constitution, only dues-paying members will be allowed to run and vote for the governing body. Therefore, if we waited until after the Constitution is ratified to establish dues and start a membership drive, the permanent council election would be delayed while we signed everyone up. Additionally, having a dues structure already in place will allow the new governing body, once it is elected, to focus immediately on its most important task– negotiating a master contract with management.
3) What are the key points I should know about this dues structure?
First, you should know that you are voting only on the union’s interim dues structure and amount. Your vote does not require you to join the union. Second, if you sign up to become a member of the union, dues will not be charged until after the Constitution is ratified. Third, this is only an interim structure, based on our estimated budget. Although we did a detailed review of information available on other federal unions and obtained detailed information on every expense we could, we must largely rely on estimates about both income and expenses. For example, we can only estimate the number of GAO bargaining unit employees who will choose to become union members. Similarly, we can only estimate the type and level of services the bargaining unit will require from our union (e.g., arbitrators, legal counsel), as well as what we can negotiate with management (e.g., office space, teleconference line, T&A time code to handle grievances).
4) Where can I get more information - what's next?
To help answer your questions, we have developed a question and answer space on our Web site. Below is a list of questions with hyperlinks that will take you the answers on our union’s website.

In addition to this interactive document, we will be holding several brown-bag sessions before the ratification ballots go out to answer any other questions, as well as explain in more detail this very important decision.

The dates and times for these brown-bags are below. Field staff can participate by calling the following number: 1-866-285-7778 (passcode 9164844)

June 26, 2008 – 11:30 to 1:30PM (ET) HQ room 5T63
July 1, 2008 – 11:30 to 1:30PM (ET) HQ room 2T59
July 9, 2008 – 11:30 to 1:30PM (ET) HQ room 2N30
July 14, 2008 – 11:30- to 1:30PM (ET) HQ room 2N30

If you still have questions in the meantime please contact your Interim Council Representative or one of the following people: Ron La Due Lake, Dan Meyer, Lise Levie, or Chris Langford.