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Raising Political Money
Check-Off
There are several ways in which Locals can raise political
money, but the easiest and most effective method is Political
Check-Off.
Check off to IBEW-COPE allows a Member to authorize a Voluntary
Contribution to be deducted from his or her paycheck and sent
directly to IBEW-COPE.
There is a tremendous potential in Check-Off. It has the
great advantage of requiring only a small commitment from
each Member to accumulate a steady flow of resource for IBEW-COPE.
Even though the contribution may be small, the deductions
constant and can add up during the year.
There are two main methods of attaining Check-Off for
Voluntary Contributions:
1. Negotiate With The Employer. Check-Off is a legitimate
item for collective bargaining which can be negotiated just
like any other contractual demand, regardless of any State
Law limiting payroll deductions.
When you are negotiating Check-Off the question regarding
"Cost of implementing the payroll deductions" will
come up. Federal Law dictates that the company must charge
the Union the actual cost of implementing and maintaining
the payroll deduction or Check-Off. Normally, there is a one-time
setup fee and no other cost is incurred.
2. Check-Off On Demand. Under Federal Election Law,
if your employer or any of its subsidiaries, branches, divisions
or affiliates, uses a payroll deduction plan (Check-Off) to
collect political monies from its managerial, non-bargaining
employees, and/or shareholders, for its Political Action Committee,
then the Union has the automatic, non-negotiable right to
use a pay roll Check-Off system for its Members to make Voluntary
Contributions to IBEW-COPE.
Under the law, the Union is entitled to use any and all methods
of solicitation that the company or corporation is using.
Other Fundraising Methods
Develop a schedule for political fundraising events each year
and by establishing fundraising targets and a yearly goal.
This can be combined with functions already in existence such
as an annual Local Union cook-out or some other type of event.
In planning an event, there is one important fundraising
rule we must adhere to: You may spend Union Treasury Money
to raise Voluntary Money, but you must raise three (3) times
as much as you spend in Union Treasury money. For example,
if your spend $500 in Treasury Money for a political event,
you must raise at least $1500 or more.
If you do not meet the 3-1 fundraising target, you must reimburse
the Union Treasury the difference. For example, if you spend
$100 for a fundraising program from Treasury Funds, you should
raise at least $300. If however, you only raise $200, you
must reimburse the Union Treasury Fund $33.33.
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