This proposal is part of a union campaign known as “Equity 2020,” which as the union stated in an email to membership, “was launched...to create a more aggressive, inclusive and responsive union over the next three years.”
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Equity Members Set to Vote on Dues Raise
This proposal is part of a union campaign known as “Equity 2020,” which as the union stated in an email to membership, “was launched...to create a more aggressive, inclusive and responsive union over the next three years.”
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So clearly I’m not a member of Equity, and as such I’m not overly familiar with the organizations particular programs and development. But it seems to me like this rise in dues is completely natural. In fact, it seems to be that this increase in dues is really just accounting for inflation across the last 15 years since the fee was last set. I understand why Equity members may be hesitant to vote for an increase in dues. After all, it is coming out of their future paychecks. But that’s sort of the price you have to pay to have a functional union who can back you up. The reasons listed for the dues increase seem worthwhile, if not a little unspecific. I would also argue virtual town halls and text alerts are not going to work out as well as they think (but hey, what do I know). Anyway, it seems reasonable to me to increase the dues. I’ll be interested to see if this passes the vote and why.
Reading the first sentence of the article surprised me; AEA "is hoping to increase its annual membership dues for the first time since 2002." As it is now currently 2017, the fact that they have not raised the dues in 15 years seems amazing to me. Costs of services and cost of living have inflated since 2002 and the dues must be able to go up to help cover rising costs. Of course no one likes to pay more, but if Equity is struggling to make ends meet, and could potentially limit how it serves and protects professionals, I advocate the increase. The price of everything from netflix to chocolate chips has gone up in the past 15 years, and we should expect a reasonable increase in pretty much everything in our lives to account for the inflation. I also wonder if more members will vote than the 14% mentioned for the Equity leadership election. 14% seems like such a small number, and I am surprised how low turn out was reported here.
I agree with what has been stated before about the surprising fact that the dues have not been raised previously and that it only makes sense for this to happen. What I found most interesting of all however was not even the fact that dues are being raised or the needs for the raise in dues but rather as Madeline points out what seems to be a lack of involvement of a majority of the membership in important decisions. I cannot believe that only 14% voted for the leadership election that recently took place. Especially when you consider the amount of people that the AEA union covers only 14% were having a say in things that could effect every member. I sincerely hope that there will be more people involved in this vote over dues and that people take the time to voice their opinions and views. A union can only improve if they understand the needs of the people they support. They are rendered useless without involvement from the people over which they govern
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