Why become a member?
Our collective power comes from our membership numbers. We won our first contract because postdocs came together for a cause. Our members give our union strength and only members get to have a voice in our union. Postdoc Workers United is a dues-paying organization that is run by and for postdocs like you!
What are dues?
Dues are small contributions by our union's members and are fundamental to keeping our organization thriving. Members of our union, House Officers Union pay a base dues-rate set at the AFSCME Council 75 miniumum rate of 1.27% of salaries. The minimum is $22.95 per month; 2025 maximum is $90.25 per month. Here is a breakdown by experience level for the first year of our contract, Sept. 2023-2024:
You can see that dues are a small contribution that make a big difference in pay. Now, postdocs are earning over $3,500 more than the NIH minimum along with the many benefits and protections of our contract. Our dues paying members give our union the power to hold OHSU accountable to those protections. Since the NIH has not announced pay increases this year, we expect to see even a bigger difference in September: 
Our contract means that nearly all OHSU postdocs will be earning $6000 or more per year than the NIH minimum and dues are a small contribution to keep our organization strong.
Who decides our dues amounts?
The base dues amounts are voted by all state AFSCME locals at convention, including our Union. House Officers currently pay the base dues rate set by the AFSCME state constitution. However, our members can decide to increase our dues for more benefits at any of our general member meetings.
Are there benefits of being a member?
Non-members receive the same contractual provisions and representation as members, but dues-paying members receive many benefits that non-dues paying members do not.
In addition to having a voice in your union, all AFSCME members are eligible for the AFSCME Advantage program. Union members get discounts on a variety of products and services, including:
- Auto, life, pet, and renters insurance
- Legal services / financial planning
- Vacation tours and car rentals
- Books, computers, floral delivery, gym memberships and more!
Do union dues go to politics?
Yes, because your dues go toward defending your contracts, jobs, and benefits. Due to the nature of the work our members do, it's critical we engage with public officials to advocate, lobby, and win on issues like good budgets, workplace safety, fighting privatization, and defending PERS. At AFSCME, Just 0.94% of your dues goes towards politics. For the average member, that means about fifty-cents per month.
AFSCME is also looking out for the political future for science! Our dues support our political team who have submitted over 50 bills to Oregon legislation including resolutions to FUND NOT CUT the NIH budget. AFSCME has helped us build political allies who supported us while we negotiated our first contract, and continue to advocate for our research.
The elected-members of our Political Action Committee (PAC) decide how policital dollars are spent. Any member can run for the Committee and have a say in the process. That money can only be used in local elections in Oregon, not federal races. Generally, it is used to support pro-worker candidates of either party, fight for/against ballot measures, and support PERS defense. For partisan races, our PAC regularly supports candidates from all political parties, it's really about where they stand on issues.