UAW Raises Union Members’ Dues by 25%

After years of unsuccessfully trying to increase revenue by organizing additional dues-paying members, the UAW recently voted to increase union dues by a whopping 25%. A veteran autoworker making $28 an hour will be out an additional $168 per year. Of course, this decision was met with resistance from rank and file UAW members. Some accused the union of overspending in its unsuccessful effort to organize Volkswagen in Tennessee, an organizing campaign that cost the union over $5 million. Others accuse the UAW of mishandling dues money and only contributing to progressive political causes when nearly half of the membership votes conservatively. Companies can expect the UAW to seek extravagant wage increases during bargaining as a way to offset this cost to its members.