ARTICLE 15

VOLUNTARY ALLOTMENT OF UNION DUES

The Employer will process requests for dues allotment and revocation for Employees in the bargaining unit, as described below:

1. The Union will obtain its own supply of SF-1187's "Request and Authorization for Voluntary Dues Allotment of Compensation for Payment of Employee Organization Dues", and furnish them to eligible members who request them.

2. The Union President will normally certify on each form submitted, the standing of the Employee and the amount to be withheld. In the absence of the President any Vice President may sign. The completed form is sent to the servicing personnel specialist (SPS) who certifies that the Employee is eligible for Union membership. The SPS will ensure that the form is forwarded to the payroll office for processing. Allotments must be effected no later than the second full pay period after receipt of the SF-1187 by the SPS.
3. The Union President or Secretary/Treasurer shall notify the SPS in writing when the Local’s dues structure changes. The SPS will ensure the change is effected by the payroll office not later than the second full pay period after receipt of the notice by the SPS. The dues structure may be changed no more than twice in any twelve 12) month period.

4. The Employer will promptly notify the Union when an Employee on voluntary dues allotment becomes ineligible as a member of the bargaining unit. The Union will promptly notify the Employer if a member of the Local is expelled from the Union. The SPS, upon verification that an Employee is ineligible or has been expelled, will ensure that the voluntary dues allotment is terminated within two (2) pay periods.
5. The Employer agrees that a biweekly remittance check will be issued to the Union and forwarded to the designated AFGE official. The check will be issued at the close of each pay period for the amount of dues withheld through Employees’ voluntary dues allotment during that pay period. The check will be forwarded immediately upon issuance along with a listing of the members and the amounts withheld for that pay period.

   The Union agrees that when the Federal Personnel and Payroll System is fully operational, the payment of voluntary dues allotments to the Union will be made via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). The SPS will notify the Union as far in advance as possible and request the information necessary to implement EFT. The Union agrees to provide the information within two (2) weeks of receipt of a request. At the time of the EFT, the payroll office for the Bureau will mail a listing of the members and the amounts withheld for each to the Secretary/Treasurer for the Local.

6. The Union will provide notification when there is a change to the designated financial officer for the Local. The notification will be via memorandum to the appropriate individual in the payroll office with a copy to the SPS.
7. Any member of the bargaining unit may revoke a voluntary dues allotment by completing an SF-1188, "Revocation of Voluntary Authorization for Allotment of Compensation for Payment of Employee Organization Dues", or via signed Memorandum. The form or memorandum must be submitted directly to the SPS. The request must be submitted within thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date of the signature on the Employee’s SF-1187. If the request is not submitted within thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date, it will not be processed and, the Employee may not submit the form until within thirty (30) days prior to the Employees next anniversary date.

   The Union President may grant permission, in writing, to process an SF-1188 at times other than the above based on the individual circumstances or financial hardship of the employee. Decisions to make exceptions to the time requirements must be made in a fair and equitable manner. It is up to the Employee to obtain the permission.

   The SPS will verify that the SF-1188 is properly submitted and will ensure it is forwarded to the payroll office. Revocation of the Employee’s Voluntary Dues Allotment will be effected no later than two full pay periods following the Employee’s anniversary date. The Union will be provided a copy of the Employee’s memorandum, or the duplicate copy of the Employee’s SF-1188 as applies. The Employer agrees to provide an SF-1188 to any Employee who requests the form.

8. The Employer agrees not to charge the Local, or any member of the bargaining unit for the processing of voluntary dues allotment as described in this Article. The Employer further agrees to continue to provide this service as long as it is not against an order of a competent authority and the Local holds exclusive recognition.
9. The Employer agrees to promptly process (within two (2) pay periods) Employee allotments which may be submitted for the Union’s PAC. Monies received will be forwarded to the appropriate AFGE official in the same manner as dues deductions. Employees who authorize such deductions may revoke the allotment in writing at anytime.