What if I want to quit the union?

You can do that but will still need to pay the dues, so in essence, you will pay for not being protected as a dissenter.

We have a union, but you DO NOT have to join and if you don't, you DO NOT have to pay dues!

Of course, we have many RNs who enjoy the benefits the union brings to our facility but they don't pay dues---Doesn't seem right to me.

Living in a right to work state means no union can present a closed shop so to speak ( belonging to the union or paying what would be equivalent dues are not necessary for employment or terms of hire) . Means you can work in your facility without belonging nor paying union dues.

Just out of curiosity, never having worked with unions before, what sort of fees can I expect to be paying when I graduate?

I think in a so called
Right to Work state you do not have to pay dues. The union must represent you whether you join or not. Ask a union representative or write a letter.

May I ask why you are having second thoughts?

If you are living in a right to work state it should be as easy as writing a letter.

You can find out about specific laws in your state here:
http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

Info on resigning from union membership:
http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_3_p.htm

(Disclaimer: The nrtw.org is obviously biased against unions, however the articles I linked give pretty much straight-forward, objective information.)

Hi GrilledCheese.. I just got hired at a unionized hospital and my union dues come to about $48/ month. I'm sure it varies according to hospital, and I know in my hospital at least those who work part-time pay less. The dues, for me, don't kick in until the first day of my fourth month (I'm in the probation period for 3 months so not part of the union) but I do know that once it kicks in they take $100 from my payck ($50 for 2 months) for "initiation fees", whatever that means.. Hope this helps.

I work in a union facility. I pay 60.00 per month union dues. If I choose to claim "Beck's Objector" status, my dues drop to 55.00 per month. Objector status means that the portion of your dues that is applied to political campaigns is not collected from you. I don't believe for even a moment that my union (SEIU) spends 5.00 of my dues on political action. More like 55.00.

I use to have to pay 1 1/2 my hourly rate for monthly union dues at my former hospital.