New Member Requesting Union Dues Exemption Sample Letter

Sample Letter

Date

Name, President
Name of Union
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear (NAME OF PRESIDENT):

For a (NUMBER OF YEARS/TIME WORKED) I have been a member of (THE UNION NAME AND LOCAL #). Since joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church, my understanding of the Bible and the teachings of my church have led me to reexamine affiliations in my social, religious and employment life. It is now my sincere religious conviction that I can no longer maintain my membership in or financially support a labor organization. My decision is not based on any hard feelings toward any individual or to the labor organization. Rather, it is based on principles I have found in God’s Word and as taught by my church. The attached letter from my church pastor and my denomination’s official position statement will verify this.

I am requesting, based on my religious belief, that (NAME OF UNION) make accommodation for my religious observance, practice, and belief, as provided for in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and as amended in 1972, and by the EEOC guidelines. These statutory exemptions are reinforced by the National Labor Relations Act (and State Government Code).

In harmony with the provisions stipulated in the above statues, I will be glad to pay the equivalent of the dues and fees to a mutually agreeable non-labor, non-religious charity. I am willing to submit to you copies of my receipts as proof of payment. I request that this be initiated immediately in lieu of requiring me to become a dues-paying union member or to tender my dues under an agency shop provision. I am not authorizing a check-off of my dues.

To facilitate this request I am submitting a “Labor Union Agreement” to serve as a memorandum of understanding, which I have filled out and signed. The charity may be filled in when we determine this. The form then needs union and employer authorizing signatures with a completed copy returned to me to confirm this exemption.

Thank you for granting this request.

Sincerely,

(SIGN YOUR NAME)

(PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS)

Enc: Letter from my church pastor
  

cc: Alan J. Reinach, Esq., Executive Director
Church State Council

(YOUR PASTOR’S NAME)