Union spending
International Union or Grand Lodge: this level consists of top union leadership and headquarters. Machinists union web sites say 55% of members' dues goes to the Grand Lodge; the Steelworkers union says 54% of members' dues goes to the International union.
District Union or Lodge: unions often group several “locals” into a “district” (the IBEW calls theirs "System Councils"). Machinists union web sites say 32% of members’ dues goes to a District Lodge.
Local Union or Lodge: groups of workers covered by the same contract are called "Local Unions" or "Local Lodges." Members usually pay dues to the local union, but most of that money is passed on to the International Union. For example, Machinists union web sites say just 13% of members’ dues stays at their Local while the Steelworkers union says 44% of members' dues stays at the local level.
Unions have multiple levels:
Who decides how a union spends the money they collect from workers?
Unions say the members control union spending:
- The International Association of Machinists web site:
"What happens to dues money paid to the Local Union? The members must, in accordance with our Constitution, approve every dollar spent."
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers web site:
"Any expenditure of local union funds must be approved by the membership."
But notice - the web sites only talk about local union funds, and don't mention that . .
International Union
District Unions
Local Unions
Some unions have even more levels, such as "territories" made up of several District and Local Unions (the IBEW calls theirs "Leadership Councils") and state offices or councils.
Of course, union members pay for these, too.
Members don't decide how the International, District, Territory or State levels spend money -- and that's where most of their dues goes.
Union members have almost no control over union spending:
Members don't vote on how much money is paid to the Grand Lodge (or on how the Grand Lodge spends that money)
Members don't vote on how much money is paid to the District office (or on how the District Lodge spends that money)
Members don't vote on the "regular bills" of the local union (which include "office rent, union meeting hall rent, office salaries, supplies and “other similar bills”).
The only thing left for members to vote on is the union picnic!
Members also have very little say in how their local union spends money.
For example, according to Machinists Union bylaws:
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Union members pay millions of dollars each year to their unions; union officers decide how that money is spent.