Proposed Bylaw Change Information
(4/11/08)

The Board approved asking the membership for a bylaw change allowing the Union to raise dues beyond the current limit set by the bylaws. Currently, our bylaws only allow bi-weekly dues to be at most the hourly rate of our lowest paid member plus fifty cents that is earmarked for the Political Action Committee. Right now, we pay $20 bi-weekly. Our maximum we can raise dues to under current bylaws is $20.16 bi weekly. The Board voted to ask the membership to allow the bi-weekly dues limit to be set at the hourly rate of a Police Officer at the 42 month step (not including educational incentive) which would make the new limit $24.26 bi-weekly at our current rate of pay. As wages increase over time, the limit also increases along with it. The Board does not intend to raise dues to that level immediately but it is considering an increase in dues at some time in the future. The dues we pay to the WPPA are increasing in 2008 by $1.75 monthly per member. We anticipate increasing dues by $1 bi-weekly or $26 annually to cover the additional cost. For years, Madison, Dane County, and Racine have paid lower dues than other members of the WPPA. Over the next ten years the WPPA is going to level out dues among all full service locals so that all member locals pay the same amount. The W.P.P.A. Board of Directors feels that all members should pay the same dues to the State Union out of basic fairness. If you have any questions about the WPPA dues structure please contact our representatives to the WPPA Board, Sue Armagost or Sue Krause. A bylaw change involves a vote by the membership which is going to occur along with the election to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors feel that this change to the bylaws is needed to preserve the fiscal health of the Union well into the future.