Local 284 Fact Sheet

What is Local 284?
Local 284 has a long history of providing professional representation to approximately 8000 members who work as school bus drivers, custodians, child care workers, paraprofessionals, clerical employees, and other school support staff in Minnesota.

What is SEIU?
Service Employees International Union is the largest and fastest growing union in the country. SEIU has over one million members throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

How much are dues?
Local 284 members pay dues that is based on the average number of hours worked, number of months worked per year and the hourly wage. No dues are paid for the months you do not work. A newly organized group does not  pay dues until the group ratifies its first contract. 

What about initiation fees?
For members of a newly organized group the initiation fee is waived. Those members hired after the first contract is ratified will pay the initiation fee. The fee is $72.50 and can be paid all at once or over a few months.

Where does dues money go?
Dues money pays for contract negotiations, legal costs, trained professional staff, communications with members, training members and organizing unorganized workers, steward expenses, and office expenses.

If we vote in the union, do we start negotiating from zero?
Absolutely not! Negotiations begin from where you are at currently. In fact, the National Labor Relations Board found management guilty of an unfair labor practice when they told employees that if the union was elected, they would not bargain and that bargaining would be futile.

Could I end up with lower wages because we have a union?
The only way you could receive lower wages if you vote to accept lower wages.

Will we have to strike?
The only way your group will ever be on strike is if your group votes to strike.

Can I be fired for joining our union or working to form our union?
It is against the law for an employer to fire a worker for union activity. The National Labor Relations Act prohibits employers from "interfering, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed" and from "dominating or interfering with the formation, existence, or administration of any employee organization."

Who runs the union?
The members do! There are regular member meetings which discuss the many issues of concern to the members.

All officers are elected by the members.

The constitution and by-laws of Local 284 can only be amended by membership vote and only after all members have been notified of pending changes.

For more information or if you have other questions please feel free to contact Paul Rohlfing at:

SEIU Local 284
450 Southview Blvd.
South St. Paul, MN 55075
(651) 256-9114