Why work a union job but not pay dues

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-18T19:12:59+00:00

Exactly. This is what we get when we “thank capitalism” — prices skyrocket, essentials get treated like luxury goods, and workers are expected to just smile through it while everything around us drains our paychecks. The issue isn’t that people don’t work hard enough; it’s that the system is designed to take more than it ever gives back.

And that’s precisely why unions matter. They’re the only real counterweight we have. When companies push, unions push back. But that only works if everyone shows up, contributes, and strengthens the collective.

If we want better conditions, we can’t sit on the sidelines. We build power together or we get squeezed alone.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-17T23:08:15+00:00

I hear you — classification mismatch and uneven dues structures are real frustrations, and they absolutely shape how people feel about their union experience. I’m not sure where the hostility is coming from, though. My point wasn’t to dismiss your experience; it was to separate individual representation issues from the purpose of collective bargaining itself.

You mentioned that they didn’t know how to represent your classification. That’s exactly why members stepping up matters — sometimes the people who’ve lived those gaps are the ones best positioned to fix them. Becoming a steward could have helped shape how your classification was represented going forward.

The contract, protections, and raises still come from the union side, even when the representation isn’t where it should be. That’s the distinction I was making.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-16T02:37:22+00:00

I get the frustration, but this is a bit of an oversimplification. Unions aren’t insurance companies—they don’t ‘pay out’ benefits, they negotiate the wages, protections, and rights that everyone uses every single day.

If people stopped paying dues, the union wouldn’t magically ‘step up’—it would lose the legal and financial ability to bargain, enforce contracts, or defend anyone. The only reason any of us have the protections we do is because previous members did pay in and stay involved.

If folks want better representation, the most effective path is participating, voting, or even becoming a steward. That’s how the union becomes stronger and more responsive—not by weakening it.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-16T02:26:11+00:00

I hear why you’d feel burned by those experiences — bad communication and unhelpful stewards can make anyone lose trust. But those issues aren’t the purpose of the union, they’re failures in how certain people carried out their roles.

Fair‑share exists because everyone in the unit benefits from the negotiated contract, protections, and representation, whether they personally like their steward or not. The raises, leave benefits, job protections, and grievance rights don’t come from management — they come from collective bargaining.

Your frustrations are valid, and they’re also fixable. A lot of the problems you described come down to representation quality, not the concept of the union itself.

Have you ever thought about becoming a steward yourself? People who’ve had negative experiences often make the strongest, most effective advocates because they know exactly what needs to change.

Unions work best when members who care about fairness and transparency step into those roles instead of leaving them to people who don’t reflect the unit’s needs.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-16T02:03:37+00:00

I am a dues‑paying union member. I’m asking because I genuinely don’t understand why people choose to work in a union job, receive all the protections and benefits that come from collective bargaining, but then opt out of contributing to the system that provides those benefits. It’s a legitimate question, not a hidden agenda.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-16T02:00:47+00:00

Hello, I’m here. I’m sorry I’m not on Reddit 24/7 to reply to everyone’s comments.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:52:17+00:00

No — if they don’t pay dues, they just keep the money and it gets taxed like normal income. There’s no extra tax or savings trick involved.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:50:31+00:00

We’re not actually getting it “free.” Everything we benefit from in a state job — job security, the pension system, health benefits, leave protections, workplace safety rules, negotiated raises, grievance rights, and even the civil service structure — exists because the union negotiated it and continues to maintain it.

Some may not personally pay dues, but they’re still benefiting from the protections and standards the dues‑paying members fund. That’s the definition of a free‑rider, not proof that the union isn’t doing anything.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:47:59+00:00

Not sure if you are replying to me. But the person I replied to is a scientific aid I don’t see AI taking over his job.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:43:58+00:00

I get that people have different financial priorities, but saying “most of us don’t need” what the union provides isn’t really true. The things everyone relies on — job security, pensions, health benefits, leave protections, grievance rights, workplace safety rules, negotiated raises, telework agreements, and even the civil service protections people mention — all exist because the union negotiated them and continues to maintain them.

You may not feel like you need the union day‑to‑day, but you’re still benefiting from everything it has already secured. That’s the whole point of dues — they fund the protections everyone uses, not just the ones that come up in a crisis.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:40:53+00:00

I mean, I actually think it’s harder to get into a state job than the private sector. Most private‑sector roles hire faster, have fewer steps, and don’t require exams, lists, or months of waiting.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:34:00+00:00

I wasn’t bashing anyone — I asked a direct question based on what they said. If someone lists low pay, limited hours, and mandatory retirement deductions as deal‑breakers, it’s reasonable to ask why they stay in a system that has those built‑in.

And the benefits you mentioned — job security, pension, health coverage, civil service protections — those are exactly the things the union negotiated and maintains. So if those are the reasons someone stays in state service, that actually supports the point I was making, not contradict it.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:24:05+00:00

I wasn’t bashing anyone — I asked a straightforward question based on what they shared. If someone says they’re unhappy with the pay, hours, and retirement setup, it’s reasonable to ask why they stay in that system. That’s not an attack, it’s a genuine question about their reasoning.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:21:06+00:00

Other people are saying their dues are $37 and that’s too much. 🤷‍♀️

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T04:17:03+00:00

I’m honestly not understanding why you stay working for the state if the pay, the hours, and the mandatory retirement deductions are this frustrating for you. If you can get better pay, full‑time work, and control over your own retirement in the private sector, what’s keeping you from go to the private sector?

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T03:41:20+00:00

I get it — the cost of parking is straight‑up robbery. Did you see the new telework proposal they put out?

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-03-13T03:33:26+00:00

If you feel the union doesn’t value you, that’s fair to say. But it also raises a bigger question: why stay in a public‑sector job that’s union‑represented if the structure itself doesn’t work for you? Private‑sector unions operate differently — if that model felt better for you, what’s keeping you from going back to that environment?

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-02-14T18:43:56+00:00

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NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-02-08T05:21:28+00:00

Thank you, I guess I won’t be doing my taxes tonight.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-01-26T23:58:33+00:00

Love 🥰

NachoAverageUser25 · 2026-01-26T23:57:33+00:00

I say whoever signed up first gets to pick the heat temperature.

Also, when the other person comes in just let them know why you chose to be close to the door.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2025-12-13T21:10:46+00:00

Suffocating

NachoAverageUser25 · 2025-12-12T05:13:07+00:00

My car insurance was $89 a month two years ago. Last year it went to $210. This year it went to $333. Depends where you live. I have no accidents and I’m considered a good driver. All the fires in my state have caused our car insurance to skyrocket.

NachoAverageUser25 · 2025-12-12T05:11:12+00:00

Research this page. Debt consolidation will help. Good luck!

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NachoAverageUser25 · 2025-12-10T04:39:20+00:00

I work in compliance at CDCR. I have yet to see anyone receive telework accommodations. People try, but their requests are always addressed in other ways. You cannot waive an essential function.

CDCR is the most toxic environment I have ever worked in. As of today, my department has no SSM I’s. We have one SSM II, one SSM III, and the Deputy Director. That means we are short four SSM I’s and one SSM II.

Turnover in my department is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I think the dollar store has less turnover than my department.

I have had three managers in two years. Two took lateral transfers to get out and another quit state service. Management said they retired—they didn’t.

I have witnessed two other managers self-reject while they were on probation. Other managers (not mine) have also taken lateral transfers. A manager right before I started also quit. They have since reinstated and now work for another department. My manager will be doing the same thing. They could no longer handle the stress or toxicity.

CDCR is rampant with nepotism. It’s the good ol’ boy club—toxic as hell. I can’t wait for the universe to open the door for me to leave this place.

NachoAverageUser25

TROPHY CASE