2026 Notice of Rights  

You are receiving this notice because you are employed in the private sector and may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement negotiated between your Employer and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW (“Union”). That collective bargaining agreement may contain a valid union security clause that obligates you to become and remain a member of the Union or to pay fees to the Union equal to the standard initiation fee and periodic dues. The National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 151-87, permits such union security clauses but provides that private-sector employees represented by a union for the purpose of collective bargaining are not required by law to become members of the union as long as they pay to the union a fair share fee to defray the costs incurred by the recognized employee organization in fulfilling its duty to represent the employees in their employment relations with the Employer, in an amount not to exceed the amount of “the periodic dues and the initiation fees uniformly required as a condition of acquiring or retaining membership” in the union. 29 U.S.C. § 158(b)(2).

If you elect not to join the Union or withdraw from the Union and thereby to limit your obligation to the Union to the payment of fees, you will lose all the rights of union membership, including the right to attend union meetings, the right to vote for union officers, the right to run for union leadership positions, the right to vote for contract proposals, and the right to take advantage of the SEIU Member Benefits Program, which includes personal loans, insurance, travel deals, and discounts on entertainment and retail.

If you have elected not to join the Union or to withdraw from the Union and thereby to limit your obligation to the Union to the payment of fees, pursuant to an active union security clause, the fair share fee will be deducted from your first paycheck and then regularly thereafter during the fair share fee year running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 (the “2026 fee year”), if you have executed a voluntary payroll deduction authorization. Pursuant to such a voluntary payroll deduction authorization, the National Labor Relations Act authorizes your employer to make such paycheck deductions for the fair share fee. If you have not executed a voluntary payroll deduction authorization, you will be obligated to pay the fair share fee directly to the Union, as a condition of your employment, when subject to an active union security clause.

Further, non-members of the Union have the right under the National Labor Relations Act and the applicable judicial decisions construing that statute to object to providing financial support to union activities not germane to collective bargaining. If you submit a timely objection, the Union will reduce your fees proportional to the percentage of the Union’s total expenditures that are not germane to collective bargaining. Individuals who timely object to providing financial support to union activities not germane to collective bargaining also have the right to challenge the calculation of their reduced objector fee and to receive a reasonably prompt determination of their challenge.

The more workers who elect full union membership and participate fully in union affairs, the greater our collective strength to improve wages, benefits and other working conditions. We strongly encourage you to support your Union with full membership and dues, and to join the ranks of healthcare workers across Washington and Montana who are working together for ourselves, our families and our patients. You can join the Union by filling out and returning a membership application at https://joinseiu1199nw.org. However, the Union will fairly represent non-members of the Union, regardless of whether they object to providing financial support to activities not germane to collective bargaining or challenge the calculation of the reduced objector fee.

This Notice, which covers the 2026 fee year, sets forth the amounts of the fair share fee and the reduced objector fee, explains how the objector and fair share fees were calculated, and how you may exercise your rights to pay the objector fee and to obtain further information regarding the Union’s calculation of that fee.

Amount of Fair Share and Objector Fee

Regular monthly membership dues are currently 1.8% of your pay.  Dues are subject to change without further notice, but the fair share and objector fees will not increase during the 2026 fee year.

Fair Share Fees

Effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW will charge fair share fee payers no more than 93% of regular membership dues.  The percentage reduction in the fair share fee from regular membership dues is designed to ensure that fair share fee payers do not pay for the cost of member-only benefits.

Objector Fees

Effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW will charge fair share fee payers who timely object to paying for expenditures not germane to collective bargaining a reduced objector fee of no more than 80% of regular membership dues.  Please see below for important information as to how you may exercise your right to pay the reduced objector fee.

Explanation of germane & non-germane expenditures

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW believes that all of the Union’s expenditures, both those germane and those not germane to collective bargaining, benefit you and all the employees the Union represents. For example, the Union may support improvements in healthcare funding or protection of overtime rights through legislation rather than collective bargaining. This would benefit all workers. We therefore believe that it is in your interest not to limit your financial obligation to the Union. However, the law provides that you have a right to object to paying for expenses not germane to collective bargaining, as described below.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s expenditures may be grouped into two general categories — those that are germane to collective bargaining and are charged to all fee payers, even if they object, and those that are not germane to collective bargaining and are not charged to fee payers who object.  This fair share fee is legal and enforceable under the National Labor Relations Act and under administrative and judicial decisions interpreting that statute.  The criteria for determining germane expenses, which are charged to all non-members, have been approved by the courts and include, but are not limited to, the following expenses:

1. Governing the union and the costs for conducting union elections.
2. Gathering information in preparation for the negotiations of collective bargaining agreements.
3. Gathering information from workers concerning collective bargaining proposals.
4. Negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
5. Adjusting grievances and arbitration pursuant to the collective bargaining agreements.
6. Membership ratification of negotiated agreements.
7. Public advertising on the Union’s bargaining positions, and progress of, collective bargaining negotiations and of the terms of Collective Bargaining Agreements, as well as of matters relating to representational interests in the collective bargaining process and contract administration.
8. Purchasing books, reports and materials used in matters relating to the representational interests in the collective bargaining process and contract negotiations.
9. Paying technicians and professionals in labor, economic, and other subjects for services used in negotiating and administrating Collective Bargaining Agreements, and in processing grievances and arbitrations.
10. Membership meetings and conventions, chapter and other Local meetings related to bargaining, representation, and other chargeable subjects.
11. Expenditures for the publishing of those portions of news, flyers and newsletter which concern matters of bargaining, representation, and other chargeable subjects.
12. Paying affiliation fees related to bargaining, representation and other chargeable subjects.
13. Lawful impasse procedures, fact-finding, mediation, arbitration and economic actions including strike related expenses.
14. The prosecution or defense of litigation or charges before administrative agencies as to ratification, interpretation, or enforcement of Collective Bargaining Agreements, or otherwise relating to represented bargaining units.
15. The prosecution or defense of litigation or charges to enforce rights relating to concerted activity, the duty of fair representation and collective bargaining, as well as the collective bargaining agreement, and any litigation related to chargeable activities or represented bargaining units.
16. Social and recreational activities for all members of the bargaining unit, whether union members or not, designed to promote unity and cohesiveness of the bargaining unit in matters relating to wages, hours and working conditions.
17. Education and training for union officers and employees related to bargaining, representation, and other chargeable subjects.
18. Operating and administrative expenses, salaries and benefits apportioned to chargeable items, e.g., rent, utilities, etc.
19. Defending the Union’s representation status in current chapters, and organizing employees of employers in competitive markets where the union already represents employers in the same market.

  The reduced objector fee rate does not include expenses, either direct or indirect, for the following activities:

1. Partisan political campaigns, get out the vote and voter registration.
2. Supporting and contributing to political organizations and candidates for public office.
3. Supporting and contributing to ideological causes and committees (which include issues of foreign affairs) unrelated to terms and conditions of employment or the preservation of bargaining unit work.
4. Supporting and contributing to Ballot Initiatives.
5. Member only benefits.
6. Litigation not related to bargaining unit matters, collective bargaining, representation or chargeable matters.
7. Organizing employees of employers in markets where the Union does not already represent employees.
8. Legislative activities not related to collective bargaining or the employment-related interests of members, or that are not otherwise germane to representing non-members in the collective bargaining process.
9. Expenditures for the publishing of those portions of news, flyers and newsletter which cover subjects not germane to collective bargaining and related non-chargeable matters.
10. Public relations and other efforts directed toward activities that are not considered germane to representing non-members in the collective bargaining process.
11. Paying affiliation fees not related to collective bargaining and related non-chargeable matters.
12. Membership meetings and conventions, chapter and other Local meetings not germane to collective bargaining or the employment-related interests of members, or that are not otherwise germane to representing non-members in the collective bargaining process.
13. Education and training for union officers and employees not germane to collective bargaining or the employment-related interests of members, or that are not otherwise germane to representing non-members in the collective bargaining process.

The amount of the objector fee for the 2026 fee year is based on the allocation of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s major categories of expenditures in calendar year 2024 into chargeable and non-chargeable classifications.  The amounts attributed to these categories of expenditures are taken from an independent audit of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s 2024 financial records contained in the financial statement audited by Minar Northey, a certified public accounting firm. This statement shows that 79.17% of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s expenditures were chargeable in 2024.

How to exercise right to object to paying for non-germane expenditures

If you wish to object to paying for expenses that are not germane to collective bargaining, you must do so in writing by mailing notice of your objection to the Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, 19823 58^th Place South, suite 200, Kent, WA, 98032.

You should include your name, original signature, valid address, Employer, and employee ID number (if available), work location, and a statement that you object to paying for non-germane expenses.  No particular form or language is required, as long as you make clear your desire to pay only the reduced objector fee. Objections sent by facsimile or e-mail transmittal, or sent to other office locations will not be accepted.

Objection letters must be postmarked within 30 days of receiving this notice.

Sending such a timely letter objecting to supporting Union activities unrelated to collective bargaining will result in you being charged the objector fee instead of the fair share fee. If you do not submit a timely objection letter, the Union will presume you have no objection to supporting Union activities unrelated to collective bargaining.  

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the above-described procedures and rights, please write to the Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, 19823 58^th Place South, suite 200, Kent, WA, 98032.