Avoiding Multiple Dues Withholding

A handbook to assist union members and officers in the proper processing of membership dues forms and to help avoid the unintended payment of multiple dues when a member changes from one postal bargaining unit to another has been developed by the National Secretary-Treasurers from the four postal unions.

National Postal Mail Handlers Union, the American Postal Workers Union, the National Association of Letter Carriers, and the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association have agreed that whenever one of its members transfers either voluntarily or involuntarily to a position with the bargaining unit of one of the other postal unions, and joins the union representing that bargaining unit, each will grant the members a release, upon request (and in accordance with the procedures established in the agreement) from this or her union membership outside of his or her anniversary window period.

As a representative, you want to prevent simultaneous dues withholding from both the NPMHU and the craft that can no longer represent the new mail handler. You must make every effort to ensure that the mail handler who transferred from other postal positions do not end up with double dues being taken out of their paycheck.

Use the "reciprocal agreement" that has been reached at the national level of the postal unions. This agreement calls for the losing craft to authorize discontinuance of dues withholding (outside of the normal 10-20 day window period), provided that the employee has signed a new 1187 authorizing dues withholding for the gaining union.

Initiate the process by having the mail handler sign an 1187 to authorize NPMHU dues withholding. To avoid double dues withholding, write on the top of the 1187 "Do Not Process Until (APWU, NALC, or NRLCA) Dues Deduction Is Terminated." At the same time, you should have the mail handlers complete an 1188 to discontinue dues withholding from the losing union and signed by a representative of that union. Write "Craft Change" at the top of the 1188. Deliver the forms to the Personnel Office with a letter requesting they be processed simultaneously during the next pay period. Cancellation procedures for each union may differ. So reference each union's procedures.

If the NPMHU representative cannot reach a local reciprocal agreement, then they should seek assistance from the National Office. Prior to submitting the signed 1187 to the Personnel Office, simply send a letter to the NMPHU National Secretary-Treasurer with the pertinent information (name, social security number, and the craft from which you would like to stop dues withholding). A request will then be made at the National level. Once that request has been processed the NPMHU should submit the signed 1187, which will begin the dues withholding for the NPMHU.