Below is a sample union resignation letter. You should check your union’s
constitution and bylaws to see if it is specific to whom a resignation
must be sent. Send the original to the union, send a copy to your employer,
and save a copy for your files.
[LETTER TO UNION:
SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL,
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED]
[your address]
[date]
[name and address of union]
[Name of appropriate union officer]:
I hereby resign as a member of [name of union]. My resignation is effective
immediately. I will continue
to meet my lawful obligation of paying a representation fee to the union
under its "union security" agreement with [name of employer].
Furthermore, I object to collection and expenditure of a fee for any purpose
other than my pro rata share of the union’s costs of collective bargaining,
contract administration, and grievance adjustment, as is my constitutional
right under Abood
v. Detroit Board of Education, 431 U.S. 209 (1977). Pursuant to
Chicago
Teachers Union v. Hudson, 475 U.S. 292 (1986), I request that you
provide me with my First Amendment procedural rights, including: reduction
of my fees to an amount that includes only constitutionally chargeable costs;
notice of the calculation of that amount, verified by an independent certified
public accountant; and notice of the procedure that you have adopted to
hold my fees in an interest-bearing escrow account and give me an opportunity
to challenge your calculation and have it reviewed by an impartial decisionmaker.
[If you pay dues by payroll deduction, include the following: Accordingly,
I also hereby notify you that I wish to authorize only the deduction from
my wages of representation fees limited to those costs that are lawfully
chargeable under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
If I am required to sign a form to make that change, please provide me with
the necessary form.]
Please reply promptly. Any further collection or expenditure of dues or
fees from me made without the procedural safeguards required by the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution will violate my civil rights
under the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, and
the U.S. Constitution.
Finally, please consider this objection to be permanent and continuing
in nature.
Sincerely yours,
[name]
cc: [name of employer]
[LETTER TO EMPLOYER:
SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL,
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED]
[your address]
[date]
[name and address of department responsible for payroll deductions]
[To appropriate payroll department management employee]:
Today I submitted my resignation from [name of the union]. A copy of my
letter to the union is enclosed. I will continue to meet my lawful obligation
of paying a representation fee to the union under its "union shop"
or "agency shop" agreement with [name of employer].
Furthermore, I object to the collection and expenditure by the union of
a fee for any purpose other than my pro rata share of the union’s costs
of collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustment,
as is my right under Ellis
v. BRAC, 466 U.S. 435 (1984). Pursuant to Chicago
Teachers Union v. Hudson, 475 U.S. 292 (1986), I request that you
ensure that the union provides me with my procedural rights, including those
outlined in my letter to the union. If it does not, I ask that [name of
employer] provide them.
[If you pay dues by payroll deduction, include the following: Accordingly,
I also hereby notify you that I wish to authorize only the deduction from
my wages of representation fees limited to those costs that are lawfully
chargeable under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
If I am required to sign a form to make that change, please provide me with
the necessary form.]
Please reply promptly to my request. Any further collection or expenditure
of dues or fees from me made without the procedural safeguards required
by law will violate my rights under the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1871,
42 U.S. Code § 1983, and/or U.S. Constitution.
Sincerely yours,
[name]
*Religious Objectors should not use this letter to resign their union membership.*
