Our per capita dues are what we contribute back to the union out of our paychecks. For the advocacy and the services that the union provides, we give a little bit back to help fund the organization and keep up the pressure in the workplace, at the bargaining table, in the courts, and in the halls of Congress. The resources that are used to fight for us – staff, printed materials, online resources, communications platforms, research, union official time, and office space are all funded by our individual per capita union dues.
Without adequate dues funding, the organization cannot effectively advocate and fight on our behalf. Our union dues are essential to growing this union and succeeding in the fights ahead.
In 2015, AFGE convention delegates voted in favor of a $1.16 dues increase, for a total monthly amount of $20.91. Since that time, federal employees have received approximately 21.4% in pay raises due to AFGE’s advocacy – but dues have not been increased.
The proposal is for a $2.50 increase in 2025. In 2026, dues then go up $1.00. After that, a simple escalator goes into effect in 2027 that is never to exceed 4% of per capita dues. The escalator percentage would be based on the raises AFGE earns for federal employees each year.
To put the escalator into further context: If you make $60,000 a year and get a 2% pay raise, that means you will have $1,200 more in your salary – but you will only be paying $6 more dollars that year in dues. That’s the price of a coffee drink – but it helps fund this union for the fights ahead.
A $2.50 increase in 2025 would cover:
A $1.00 increase in 2026 would:
The addition of the escalator would:
With our resources, AFGE was the fastest growing large union in 2023. After years of membership loss due to Trump Executive Orders and the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve stopped the bleeding and have had positive net growth each month for more than a year. In 2023 we netted 16,000 new members. Our newest organizing campaign, the “Drive to 325” outlines our goal of reaching 325,000 members by the end of 2025 – which would be the largest that AFGE has ever been in its entire history.
We’ve also advocated on behalf of our members for fair pay. Since 2014, federal employees have received approximately 21.4% in pay raises due to AFGE’s advocacy.
We’ve secured collective bargaining agreements at agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Transportation Security Administration, Social Security Administration, and others that put workers first.
AFGE has not received dues increase since 2015. And while we are increasing our funding through organizing new members, we still need more money to be able to represent all our members to the best of our ability, fight off attacks against our union, and advocate to ensure that our members receive the pay and benefits we deserve.
Our union has been racking up win after win, and in 2023 federal employees received the largest raise in 40 years. If we want to see more wins and make our gains even larger, we must fund the fight.
We cannot solve 2025 problems with 2015 dues.
Make sure to talk to your Local and make sure that your delegates are prepared to go to Convention and support the union's resolution to increase per capita dues to Fund the Fight. ✊