Good News... Lower Monthly Dues

Good news…LOWER MONTHLY DUES.  Monthly dues move from $4.50 per $10 level to $3.80 per $10 level effective January 1, 2011. 

The officers and directors closely monitor the levels of discipline assessed by the carriers and our financial situation.  When discipline eases and the Fund operates at a modest profit it is appropriate that we share those profits with our members.

To allow for the January 2011 reduction, and to prepare for dues rate reductions in the future, the Fund is implementing a new strategy. Additional changes in the dues rate, if any, will be made effective in January of the applicable year thus providing the stability and predictability that members need to budget accordingly. To enable us to adjust the monthly dues as needed, six and twelve month discounts must be discontinued in favor of everyone receiving the lowest dues possible.

Members, who prepaid 6 months dues applicable to 2011 or portions thereof, will receive refunds for the difference between the 5% discount and the new monthly dues rate. Annual dues payers with prepaid monthly dues for 2011 or portions thereof, have already received a 15% saving therefore no refunds will be sent to annual dues payers.

Members may still choose to remit 6 or 12 months dues for their convenience and we will continue to send 6 and 12 month reminder notices. To be clear, the 5% and 15% discounts are no longer applicable to those remittances. A positive feature of the elimination of the discounts is that members may choose whatever dues frequency best suits their needs; they will be assured of receiving the lowest dues rate possible. Increased payment flexibility helps everyone. The requirement remains that dues must be paid in advance, being received in the principal office on or before the last business day of the preceding calendar month.

Members will receive a revised constitution with a new format for Article XII, (Sec. 4) that simplifies the language and will improve communication with members. It will be distributed in late December. Article XII, (Sec. 4) will easily identify and provide examples regarding; (1)general exclusions , (2)availability or ability to work, (3)insubordination, (4)conduct, (5)disputes, (6)contraband, (7)qualification or testing, (8)drugs and alcohol, (9)injuries, (10)intentional act(s) or act(s) of willful or wanton negligence.

The revised constitution contains a thirty (30) day, money back guarantee. Any new member shall be entitled to a full refund of all dues paid in advance provided written notice over the member’s signature is received in the principal office within 30 days of the effective date of their membership. Any existing member, after reviewing a revised constitution, who desires to cancel their membership, will be entitled to a full refund of all dues paid and applied to months subsequent to the effective date of the constitution provided written notice over the member’s signature is received in the principal office within 30 days of the effective date of such constitution.

Another improvement is the direct deposit of “Held Out of Service” membership benefits when disciplined for eligible occurrences. A direct deposit to the member’s bank account is made at midnight on the same day that a request for “Held Out of Service” membership benefits is approved.

Automatic withdrawal of monthly dues from a member’s bank account is available. Review the “Dues-O- Matic” form here with instructions.

New membership application forms with the revised monthly dues rates will be available on our website before the end of December.

We have gotten through some difficult years when discipline reached all time highs, interest rates on investments were at a low point and railroads furloughed record numbers of employees. Things are getting better and with your help we will expand this Fund to include more rail workers, financially grow, prosper and become stronger.