Article IX, Section
14, of the AFSCME International Constitution includes a rebate procedure for
members who object to the expenditure of union funds for partisan political or
ideological purposes. The rebate is not available to those who are members under
a union shop or similar provision — or to non-members who pay agency shop or
similar fees to the union.
The timing of the
rebate procedure is tied to the International’s recent fiscal year, which ended
December 31. The procedures, including the requirements for submitting a proper
rebate request, were adopted by delegates to the International Convention and
are spelled out in Article IX, Section 14, of the International Constitution and
summarized below. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
Eligible members who
object to the expenditure of a portion of their dues for partisan political or
ideological purposes and want to request a rebate must do so individually in
writing. Written requests must be postmarked between April 1 and April 16,
2010, and must be sent via registered or certified mail to BOTH the
International Secretary-Treasurer AND the council with which the member’s local
is affiliated (or if no council affiliation, to the member’s local union).
The request must
contain the following information: the member’s name, Social Security number or
member number, home address, e-mail address, if available, and the AFSCME local
and council number to which dues were paid during the preceding year. This
information must be typed or legibly printed. The individual request must be
signed by the member and sent by the individual member to: William Lucy,
International Secretary-Treasurer, AFSCME, 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, DC
20036-5687, AND to the council with which the member’s local is
affiliated (or if no council affiliation, to the member’s local union).
Requests from more than one person may not be sent in the same envelope. Each
request must be sent individually. Requests must be submitted in writing each
year.
Upon receipt of a
valid rebate request, an application for partisan political or ideological
rebate will be sent to the objecting member. The objecting member will be
required to complete and return the application within 30 days of its issuance.
The application will require the objecting member to identify those partisan
political or ideological activities to which objection is being made. In
determining the amount of the rebate to be paid to any member, the International
Union and each subordinate body shall have the option of limiting the rebate to
the member’s pro-rata share of the expenses for those activities specifically
identified in the application.
Any member who is
dissatisfied with the amount of the rebate paid by the International Union or
any subordinate body may object by filing a written appeal with the AFSCME
Judicial Panel within 15 days after the rebate check has been received. Appeals
should be sent to the Judicial Panel Chairperson at the AFSCME International
Headquarters at the address listed above. The Judicial Panel will conduct a
hearing and issue a written decision on such appeals, subject to an appeal to
the full Judicial Panel. If dissatisfied with the Judicial Panel’s ruling, a
member can appeal to the next International Convention.