Dear COGS members,
As a result of the changes in Chapter 20, your COGS union dues will no longer be deducted from your paycheck after July 1, 2017. We will continue to be a strong union despite their attempts to make it harder, but we need your help. To continue to be a member of COGS you must sign up through our new system outlined below.
Our new union card is online at http://cogs.org/join-us . Simply fill out the form which authorizes monthly payments from your checking account to the union instead of out of your paycheck. If you are working over the summer, you should do this now for dues deductions to begin August 1. If you will be returning in the Fall, there is an option for you to sign up now and begin dues deductions on September 1st.
The whole process should take about 10 minutes, but it requires two or three steps.
We’ve chosen to use a payment processing company called Dwolla, similar to Paypal or Venmo. This was the most economical option available online. Dwolla is a national company based in Iowa and used for certain state transactions such as auto license fees. If you don’t already have a Dwolla Direct account, you will need to set one up following this link. If your checking account is with a local bank or credit union, Dwolla will ask you to verify your account by acknowledging a minimal Dwolla deposit within 1-3 days. If your checking account is with a national bank, you will have instant verification.
Once your account is verified, just return to http://cogs.org/join-us and submit the form.
If you prefer not to use Dwolla, please visit the COGS office between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday to authorize direct debit from your checking account. All you need is a voided check.
We are not standing by and allowing these changes to go unquestioned. We believe it is unconstitutional to target labor union dues deductions while allowing public employers to deduct contributions to other organizations. A court case has already been filed by another union.
You can stand up to union busting politicians, and stand in solidarity with your fellow graduate employees by signing up to pay your union dues directly to COGS. We are fighting back, and we will win if every single COGS member re-joins the union. Being a union member is the most important thing you can do to resist attacks on workplace democracy and working people everywhere.
In solidarity,
COGS Organizing Committee