As an Analyst employed by New York City, to become a full voting member in our union, the Organization of Staff Analysts, you must complete and sign The Organization of Staff Analysts Dues Checkoff Authorization card. The card authorizes the City to deduct union dues from your paycheck each pay period. When completed and signed, the card enrolls you as a voluntary member of OSA and entitles you to vote on union contracts and for union officers.
To obtain a copy of the Checkoff Authorization Card for Analysts in the New York City Transit Authority, click here.
To obtain a copy of the Checkoff Authorization Card for Analysts in all other City agencies, click here.
Why join?
As an agency shop fee payer, you have absolutely no say in how the union negotiates your wages and benefits, what demands it makes at contract time, or whether or not to accept the terms and conditions negotiated. You have no say in who represents you in negotiations and you also have no say in electing officers. By joining the union, you gain full democratic rights in how you are represented.
In addition, when you join, you send a message to the City that you believe in a strong union movement in negotiations with your employer.
So, if you are an agency shop fee payer, we believe it's in your best interests to become a full union member rather than continuing in your current status. Join the OSA family as a union member.
What's an agency shop fee payer?
Because the City of New York has what is commonly known as an "agency shop" agreement with the Organization of Staff Analysts - and other city unions as well - OSA represents in one bargaining unit all employees in a covered title for collective bargaining purposes, whether they sign a Checkoff Authorization Card or not. Those who sign the card are "union members" and those who don't are "agency shop fee payers."
Those workers who do not elect to join the union are affected by any gains or losses that occur in wages and benefits through the union's efforts. Therefore, the union receives so-called "agency shop fees" for such representation.
The agency shop fee is exactly the same amount as union dues - no more, no less.
If you are an agency shop fee payer, the fee is deducted from your paycheck in the same way union dues are deducted for OSA members. You receive the same wages and benefits negotiated by the union for its members.
Agency Shop Fee Procedure
OSA spends none of its dues or agency shop fees on activities or causes of a political or ideological nature. Why is that important? Under federal law, agency shop fee payers may request a refund of any part of their agency shop fee which "represents the employee's pro-rata share of expenditures in aid of activities or causes of a political or ideological nature only incidentally related to terms and conditions of employment." Each year, OSA mails to members and agency shop fee payers a description of this procedure.
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