UMRFA Response: Thanks for the helpful FAQ, UMMC. Typical dues are about 1.2 - 2% of each paycheck A portion of that goes to AFT National and AFT Maryland as per capita dues, but the rest goes to UMRFA expenses. We cannot publish what the dues will be because the exact amount will be determined by the residents and fellows themselves (That is all of you). We have not voted yet!
The majority of funds will go to operating expenses to maintain union representatives and attorneys to advocate for residents and fellows whenever necessary as well as advise us during each contract negotiation process. If the hospital acts in good faith and negotiates quickly we’ll need less legal representation and keep those expenditures low. Residents and fellows can vote to set aside additional funds into a pool they control that can be used for member social events, charity or purchasing equipment for members. The union will be much more transparent about where this money goes than UMMC currently is being about their funds.
AFT regularly supports political causes that advocate for the rights of labor - this is what enables union organizing like our own. The National and state unions work on research support and legal support to our local. The affiliation of our local with AFT adds multiple tools in the form of policy, legislative, research, and more resources. Our union campaign was started by residents and fellows but to get to the next step we need to partner with AFT. The union will always be resident and fellow led and when UMMC chooses to attack the union, then they are choosing to attack their residents and fellows.
UMRFA Response: Yes, we will have a union constitution with bylaws. Generally speaking, we’re fans of constitutions in this country. This is a document that will be crafted with thorough input from every resident and fellow and will be voted upon by the whole union. Currently, we’re held to whatever standards the hospital decides to go by on a given day, with no standardized reference and no input.
UMMC wants you to think that the union is some external third party that is coming in to control you. This is nothing but a lie. The union is us, the residents and fellows. We are the union. AFT is a partner but they are here to help us - the union will be by, for, and of the residents and fellows. We ask AFT for the help we need; no one tells us what to do with our resources.
UMMC wants to disparage the concept of speaking with “one voice” but what is their alternative? Currently, we speak with no voice. They ask how one agreement can represent all the different specialties and programs. Yes, we all have varied experiences but many of our asks are not all that different. Coming together we can find common solutions to varied problems. The beauty of a union is that while we do speak collectively, that voice is informed by the knowledge, experiences, and opinions of each member of our unit. Sure, an individual may disagree with what we advocate for on a particular issue but we can learn from them and are confident that we can earn their trust by getting them wins that will make a material difference in their life. We will listen to each member of our union thoroughly - something the hospital has made next to no effort to do in any of our experiences.