Vote Set On New Method
Calculating Higher Union Dues

With implementation of the new payroll system at The Buffalo News in January, Guild-CWA members have noticed they are paying slightly higher union dues. The new system, in addition to weekly gross wages, is calculating dues deductions on excess Newsflex dollars that some members receive in their weekly paychecks, union members recently reported to Local leaders.

The News has verified that the system does indeed now calculate dues on the amount of wages plus any excess Newsflex money distributed to members in their paychecks.

Since the institution of the Newsflex health benefits in 1993 and up to December 1998, dues were calculated only on earnings.

Article X, Section 1 of our Local Guild-CWA by-laws states that "Dues shall be paid in graduated accordance with the wages of the members as follows: (a) for regular members , dues shall be 1.5625 percent of weekly gross wages, paid weekly by members working in a unit with a dues checkoff agreement."

Dues assessment and calculations are an issue for the local membership of the Guild-CWA to consider. The issue of whether or not to allow The News' payroll system to continue in the calculation of dues on both earnings and excess Newsflex dollars will be on the floor at the next local meeting for a vote of the membership. Newflex dollars received in a weekly paycheck do, in effect, become a part of gross taxable wages.

To illustrate; if you receive $200 weekly gross taxable wages, your dues amount would be $200 multiplied by 1.5625 percent. The dues, therefore on $200 would be $3.13 for that week. If you receive $200 plus $10 in excess Newsflex dollars weekly in your paycheck, the total gross taxable wages for that week would be $210. The dues amount on $210 would be $3.28.