UAW 2478 Membership and Dues Authorization Form

Caltech UID PDF header
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Void Text - Opted Out
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Void Text - No Auto Dues
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UAW Local 2478 is the union of more than 2000 Graduate Student Workers (GSWs) and Postdocs (PDs) at Caltech. Together, GSWs and PDs bargain for better pay, benefits, and workplace rights. Caltech is one of the premier universities in the world, and it is through your labor that it will remain that way. Your contract includes:
- Unprecedented raises since the start of our union campaign in 2022 to Fall 2025 - a total raise of 25.3% for GSWs and 12.8% for PDs in base pay alone
- Increased healthcare premium coverage for GSWs and their dependents
- Guaranteed two-year minimum initial appointments for PDs
- Rehiring protections for workers who fall out of visa status
- Timely protections against abusive conduct beyond those enforced by Title IX, including neutral third-party mediation and immediate, supportive, and survivor-centered interim measures
- Resonable accomodations in a timely manner, right to file a grievance if they are unreasonably denied
...And so much more!
Membership is how workers build power to enforce our rights.

Members and non-members contribute approximately the same in dues, as all workers are protected by our union contract. All Graduate Student Workers and Postdoctoral Researchers at Caltech must become union member and pay dues (1.44% of salary), or decline membership and pay agency fees (1.18% of salary).

Only members can vote on priorities, participate in union meetings, and run for elected office. Members shape the direction of your union!
Name

First NameLast Name
Preferred Email
A copy of your submission will be sent to this email address.
I accept membership in United Auto Workers Local 2478I decline membership in United Auto Workers Local 2478

This form is to be used only for your initial choice of opting into or out of union membership.

Do not use this form if you are currently a member and wish to revoke your membership.

Instead, please ask to be put in contact with a union steward by emailing organize@uaw2478.org.

If you are indeed making your initial choice to opt out of union membership, press the Opt Out button below. Use the back button below to return to the membership election option selection.

Agency fees and member dues are the direct way that grad workers pool our resources together to make life better at Caltech. Dues and fees fund crucial union actions such as contract enforcement, organizing, and member-to-member education. Our union is 100% grad worker-funded and grad worker-led.

In order to grow our power as grad workers, consider instead signing up as a union member. Member dues are only a few dollars more per month (1.44% vs 1.18%). Only through standing together as union members can grad workers enforce our rights and ensure that Caltech follows the contract.

To join as a member, use the back button at the bottom of this form to return to the membership election option selection. To continue with your opt-out, please fill out the agency fee deduction authorization below.
AUTHORIZATION FOR DEDUCTION OF AGENCY FEES
I have elected to opt out of UAW membership and pay a monthly agency fee. I hereby assign to the UAW from any wages earned or to be earned by me as your employee (in my present or any future employment by you) such sums as the Financial Officer of said UAW may certify as due and owing from me as agency fees (currently 1.18% of gross pay), including an initiation or reinstatement fee and monthly agency fees in such sum as may be established from time to time as union agency fees in accordance with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW and applicable laws. I authorize and direct you to deduct such amounts from my pay and to remit same to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon between you and the Union at any time while this authorization is in effect.

This authorization is voluntary on my part and shall remain in effect while I am employed by Caltech unless and until I revoke it by notifying the Union of my decision to revoke. This authorization is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 302(c) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 and otherwise.

CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS TO THE UAW ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Caltech Email address*
example@caltech.edu
Caltech UID Number*
Printed on the bottom of your Caltech ID; e.g. 8765432
Signature to authorize agency fee deductions:*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Today's Date in MM-DD-YYYY format

Member Details

Please fill out the digital membership card below.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Preferred name (if different from first)
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Email*
example@example.com
Cell Phone*
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Caltech UID Number*
Printed on the bottom of your Caltech ID; e.g. 8765432
Graduate Student WorkerPostdoc
Building
The building you typically work in, e.g. where your lab or cubicle is located.
Room Number
The room number of your typical work location, e.g. "220" for 220 Annenberg.
Lab/Group
The lab or research group you primarily work with. Most labs are listed under their PI's name, e.g. 'Hsieh-Wilson, Linda' or 'Atwater, Harry'. Others are listed by name or abbreviation, such as 'LIGO', 'ObCos', or 'Particle Theory Group'. Rotation students can enter their division, e.g. 'CCE - Rotation'. Your answer does not need to match one of the suggested values.
Department
The department you primarily work in.
Start year
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I accept membership in the UAW and its designated Local, 2478, which represents me with respect to my working conditions at Caltech. I agree to pay a one-time $10 membership initiation fee and monthly dues, currently 1.44% of my gross pay. My membership gives me voting rights in both the Local and the International.

Signature

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Today's date in MM-DD-YYYY format
Talking to colleagues in my building about the rights and benefits in our contractAttending a workshop to learn how to advocate for peers in my workplaceOrganizing around a grievance or contract violation I have witnessedHelping to protect science funding and international scholar rights under Trump

Enroll in Automated Dues Deductions
The most convenient way to pay dues is through automated payroll deductions. Otherwise, you must set up a manual payment each month.

AUTHORIZATION FOR DEDUCTION OF MEMBERSHIP DUES

I hereby authorize and direct the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to deduct from my earnings and to transmit to the UAW and its designated Local Union, dues and initiation fee in the amount established in accordance with the UAW constitution and Local Union bylaws (currently 1.44% of gross pay). The UAW may notify Caltech of this authorization. This authorization is voluntary on my part and shall remain in effect while I am employed by Caltech unless and until I revoke it by notifying the Union of my decision to revoke. I authorize and direct you to deduct such amounts from my pay and to remit same to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon between you and the Union at any time while this authorization is in effect.

This authorization is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 302(c) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 and otherwise.

Contributions or gifts to the UAW are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
Automatic dues deductionsI don't want to sign up for dues deductions. I will pay my dues another way (e.g. writing a monthly check).
Name*

First NameLast Name
Signature*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Today's date in MM-DD-YYYY format
Should be Empty:

AUTHORIZATION FOR DEDUCTION OF AGENCY FEES

Member Details

Enroll in Automated Dues Deductions