Nokia To Stop Automatic Union Dues Deductions From Paychecks

February 6, 2020

Brothers and Sister,

Nokia Work Force Relations has notified the CWA National that it is going to stop all union dues deductions from our pay checks sometime mid-February.  This is being done because of an NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) “Ruling” stating that working under an expired contract the company is not obligated to deduct union dues.  Even though we have Contract Article 23 that has an agreed upon process for the company to deduct our dues, they are taking the position of the NLRB ruling. 

The Bargaining Team and the Installation Local Presidents feel that this is the company’s retaliation for the NLRB Charges filed against them.  It is also the companies first and least aggressive action against us during the bargaining process. 

Companies stopping automatic dues deductions during the bargaining process is nothing new.  This is a common practice they use this to discourage us during bargaining in hopes that we will settle for something less.  In fact, I am somewhat surprised Nokia hasn’t done this sooner than now, we have been working status quo on an expired contract for over a year now. 

Having our dues automatically deducted from our paychecks is a matter of convenience to us.  And our union dues are relatively low to other trade unions.  Our union dues are equal to 2.25 hours per month of our hourly wage.  To figure out your union dues is simpe, it is 2.25 times your hourly rate.   The money I paid for my union dues was never missed, and it never went into my checking account because of the automatic dues’ deduction.   It was also a matter of convenience for the local as well.  The company would deduct our dues, issue a check to the CWA National Secretary/Treasurers Office, and the National would issue a check to the local for their portion.  Because the company has decided not to do this, they are shifting the responsibility of our dues to the locals and members.

How is this going to work?  As of right now I do not have a definitive answer for this.  As of right now I can tell you that the CWA T&T Office is in Communications with the CWA National Secretary/Treasurers Office as well as the installation local Presidents for solutions on a way for the local to collect the dues from the members.  Automatic bill pay, automatic bank withdraws, to each member writing a check payable to the local each month are currently being discussed at this time.  As I learn more information on our union dues I will share with our members, please make sure you are actively using our local’s website.

In Unity,

R.K. Ferdinandsen

President

CWA Local 7590