Article IV – Dues & Assessments

Section 1 - Annual Per Capita Dues. Effective September 1, 2016, the per capita dues for active members of the Association shall be assessed at the rate of 1.8% of gross annual salary (exclusive of overtime, but including longevity or step increments) in accordance with provisions set forth below. Affiliated chapters may assess additional local dues as are authorized within the chapter’s local operating procedures.

1. All per capita and chapter dues required of active members shall only be paid by payroll deduction through the employer. Upon making application for active membership, the applicant shall complete and sign an OSEA membership application/payroll deduction of dues authorization form.
2. The amount of annual per capita and chapter dues for each active member, as well as fair share service fees for each non-member employed in a private sector bargaining unit with fair share provisions in the collective bargaining agreement, shall be divided equally by the number of paychecks received regardless of the number of months in paid status.
3. All dues and fair share service fees shall be remitted directly to the Association by the employer not later than the 30th day of the following month after payroll deductions are made. OSEA shall then reimburse the chapter for its portion of dues/fees collected within 30 days of receipt from the employer. Chapters may make arrangements with OSEA and the employer whereby chapter dues collected are direct deposited into the chapter bank account by the employer.

Section 2 - Annual Dues Exceptions

1. No per capita dues payment is required of lifetime or honorary members. Such members who are or who become employed in an OSEA-represented bargaining unit shall, however, be assessed chapter dues unless exempted by provisions set forth in the chapter’s local operating procedures.
2. Active members granted inactive membership status pursuant to Article III, Section 2, of this Constitution shall pay in advance directly to the Association on a monthly basis the full per capita and chapter dues that would be required of them as active members at the time of their leave of absence, layoff or involuntary termination. OSEA shall then reimburse the chapter for its portion of dues collected within 30 days of receipt from the inactive member.
3. Associate members shall pay annual dues of $25 in advance. However, this dues payment will be waived if the associate member elects to receive all communications from OSEA electronically.

Section 3 - Membership in Good Standing

1. Public Sector Bargaining Units - “Membership in good standing” for purposes of establishing voting rights and the right to hold office or positions shall become effective the first day of the month following the month in which payroll deduction of dues commences.
2. Private Sector Bargaining Units – “Membership in good standing” for purposes of establishing voting rights and the right to hold office or positions for employees in private sector bargaining units with fair share provisions in the collective bargaining agreement who wish to convert their fair share status to OSEA active membership shall be effective upon the completion and signing of an OSEA membership application/payroll deduction of dues authorization form.
3. Individual chapters may require payroll deduction of required dues for a specific additional period of time not to exceed 3 consecutive months, excluding non-paid break periods, prior to “membership in good standing” becoming effective provided such restriction is set forth in the chapter’s local operating procedures.

Section 4 - Delinquency and Resignation. Unless otherwise provided in the Constitution, any member failing to pay all required dues for the current month shall be presumed to have resigned membership and shall not be considered to be in good standing effective the first day of the following month unless there is a delay in the transmission of payroll deducted dues by the employer.

Section 5 - Assessments. No assessment(s) shall be levied by the Association on its members except by resolution at the Annual Conference. Resolutions proposing an assessment must be submitted to the Executive Director not later than February 1 and shall be published in the OSEA official publication (the Journal) not less than 60 days prior to the Annual Conference. A ⅔ secret ballot vote of the eligible voting body at the Annual Conference shall be required on any resolution to levy assessments.