Working dues are in addition to your monthly dues.  Effective January 1, 2012 working dues increased to $0.85 per hour worked.  If you have signed the working dues authorization card, they will be deducted from your vacation fund.  If you have not signed the authorization card you will be billed on a monthly basis.  Please note that your working dues authorization does not authorize us to deduct your monthly dues - to do so, a separate authorization form must be filled out. 

Base Dues are $32.00 per month

Members pay two (2) types of dues:

We do offer a yearly discount to those members interested in paying their monthly dues a year in advance.  If you pay 11 months at the regular rate ($32.00) you will receive the 12th month for $1.00 ($353.00 for 1 year). 

Base dues are $32.00 a month, and must be paid every month in order to remain a member in good standing of the Laborers' Union.  If you should fall more than two months behind on your monthly dues, your membership will be suspended.  If you should become suspended, in order to regain your active status with the union, you will be required to pay a reinstatement fee.  Please be advised that the reinstatement fee is more than dues; therefore you will save money by paying your monthly dues on time.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS:

When applying for unemployment benefits in Minnesota, the application form asks whether an applicant has received "vacation pay".  In the past, there has been some confusion by Minnesota Laborers who receive their annual or special payouts from the Minnesota Laborers' Vacation Fund around the same time that they apply for unemployment benefits.  When completing the application form, if a Laborer answers "yes", that they have received "vacation pay", their unemployment benefits are delayed or denied.

In the recent decision, Auren v DEED, A05-606 (March 28, 2006), the Minnesota Court of Appeals determined that a withdrawal from the Minnesota Laborers' Vacation Fund does not affect eligibility for unemployment benefits because:

    -    Laborers' Vacation Fund withdrawals are made at the request of the member;
    -    Laborers' Vacation Fund withdrawals are made out of the member's own account;
    -    Laborers' Vacation Fund withdrawals are wages already earned by the employee and
         already taxed; and
    -    Laborers' Vacation Fund withdrawals are made regardless of whether the member is 
        laid off or working.

Therefore, Laborers' Vacation Fund withdrawals do not meet the definition of "vacation pay" under Minnesota law.