Union dues and initiation fees are the funds required to provide representation and services to the union members. These fees are deducted from paycheques by the employer and remitted to the union.  Union dues are not determined by the union's leaders.  Local 401 members have voted through democratic secret ballot processes to set their own union dues.

While a union is a not for profit organization, unfortunately, the union cannot do it's job without funds. Representing thousands of employees against powerful multi million and even multi billion dollar employers is an increasingly difficult and expensive proposition. Attracting good union representatives, lawyers, and other advocates is a financial challenge. Arbitrators and mediators are expensive. Administrative, organizing, upgrading and education expenditures continue to rise. A strike fund must be sustained. The services of the International Union, Canadian Labour Congress, Alberta Federation of Labour, Labour Council, and other assistance must be remunerated. Bargaining contracts is very expensive as the union pays lost wages and benefits for the negotiating committees made up of employees from your workplaces. The costs associated with union representation are indeed many and varied.