Union dues
Every penny that comes into the union is spent to represent, protect, and help our members.
Unions are non-profit organizations funded exclusively by union dues.
Every penny that comes into the union is spent to represent, protect, and help our members. Union dues allow us to hire the best staff and lawyers to fight for our members, pay for the tools we need to win good contracts, maintain a robust and healthy defense fund, and run the operation of the union – from building maintenance to printing materials and agreements.
How much are union dues and fees?
Union dues rates are based on where a member works.
In New York City:
Dues Rate A – For members in all industries except freestanding restaurants that are not in hotels or casinos, racetracks, and racetrack concessionaires.
Dues Rate B – For members in freestanding restaurants that are not in hotels or casinos, racetracks, and racetrack concessionaires.
Outside New York City:
Dues Rate B – For members in all industries except seasonal employees at Saratoga Race Course.
Dues Rate C – For seasonal employees at Saratoga Race Course.
As of September 1, 2025, Dues Rate A is $30.39 per week. Dues Rate B is $12.94 per week. Dues Rate C is $126.35 for the season. Dues increase by 2% each year. In 2014, the union membership voted to approve an annual dues increase in an overwhelming vote: 89.9% YES.
Initiation Fee
New union members pay a one-time initiation fee. For members hired on or after September 1, 2014 who are under Dues Rate A, the initiation fee is $200 (paid in 20 weekly installments of $10). For members hired on or after September 1, 2014 who are under Dues Rate B or C, the initiation fee is $100 (paid in 10 weekly installments of $10).
Defense Fund
Members pay a one-time $1,040 “start up fee” to the union’s defense fund in 104 weekly installments of $10. After completing the $1,040, members pay $2/month to the defense fund.
Our membership voted overwhelmingly to create a large defense fund in 2004 during tense city-wide contract negotiations. This fund is now one of the pillars of our power: our war chest for contract fights, strikes, and new organizing. Because of our large defense fund, we have the ability to sit across the table from management and demand better wages, benefits, and working conditions knowing that in the event we have to fight, we have the resources to run a well-oiled boycott and pay workers weekly strike benefits, for months, without the fear of workers being unable to afford to keep fighting. Just as importantly, management knows it too. If you’re asking yourself, “I’ve never been on strike, so how does this benefit me?” It is precisely because of this threat that we have the ability go out on strike and sustain the fight that has made it so that you haven’t had to.
FAQs: Union dues
Q: If I’m not working, how long can I be out on layoff before I “lose my membership” or am “not part of the union”?
A: If you are working in one or more HTC-represented jobs, the normal dues check-off process applies. However, if you are on temporary continuous layoff (or other unpaid leave) for longer than two full consecutive calendar months, your membership will be frozen and the union will waive your dues for that period of time. When you go back to work, you can reinstate your membership, without paying another initiation fee, by resuming the payment of dues going forward (as well as any back dues or assessments from before your membership was frozen.)
If you want to maintain your membership in good standing, and not have it be frozen, you can arrange to self-pay your dues by contacting the HTC Dues Department at (212) 245-8100.
Q: Does freezing my membership during layoff or leave adversely affect my rights on the job?
A: No. If you’re eligible to freeze your membership due to an extended layoff or leave for more than two calendar months, you are not required to pay dues for those waived months and that has no effect on any of your contractual rights on the job (like seniority, recall, wages or benefits.)
Q: Does freezing my membership affect any of my rights or privileges in the union?
A: Yes. If you freeze your membership, that is a type of suspension. Allowing your membership to be suspended causes a break in your “continuous good-standing” as a member and that temporarily suspends some of your membership rights (such as the right to attend union meetings, to hold union office, and to vote or run in union elections and delegate referenda.)
Q: If I have two union jobs, do I pay double dues?
A: If you have two or more HTC-represented jobs, you will only owe one set of HTC dues. You can request a refund by contacting the HTC Dues Department by calling (212) 245-8100.
Important Note: If you have been assigned to different locals at your HTC-represented jobs, you will owe a local service fee to each Local. For example, an HTC member who works as a houseperson at job #1 (Local 6) and an engineer at job #2 (Local 94) will owe a local service fee to both Local 6 and Local 94. In this case, you can request a partial refund of one set of HTC dues.
Contact the HTC Dues Department
Members can contact the HTC Dues Department by visiting the union’s headquarters at 709 8th Avenue (4th floor), Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM, or by calling (212) 245-8100.
Non-union hotels and casinos
During a union organizing drive, employers will often lie about union dues in attempt to make workers believe that the union is motivated by money. Our union organizes non-union hotel and gaming workers in order to improve the lives of hotel and gaming workers, build our bargaining power with the industry, and increase our union density. Below are the facts about how union dues work.
Q: If we vote to be represented by the union, will we have to pay union dues before we get a union contract?
A: No. Our union guarantees that workers will not be required to pay union dues until our union successfully negotiates a contract for them.
Q: What if we don’t like the contract that HTC negotiates?
A: Our union will not sign a first contract that is not approved by the workers. That means until the workers approve the contract by majority vote, you don’t pay union dues.
Almost always, the workers are so happy with the contract our union negotiates that they approve it by more than a 90% majority and frequently 100%. The vote is conducted by secret ballot and counted in front of the workers.
This does not include a contract awarded through an arbitration award.
Q: If I have to pay union dues, doesn’t that mean I’ll take home less money in my paycheck?
A: No, not if the union negotiates a raise over and above the cost of dues - and that’s exactly what HTC does. Your boss will not be able to show you a single workplace organized by our union where the workers we represent did not make more money in their paychecks despite beginning to pay union dues. Our union always succeeds in winning significantly higher wages than the cost of dues for the workers we organize.
Q: What do union dues pay for?
A: Union dues pay the operating costs of the union and the union gives our members the power to win and enforce the best contracts for hotel and gaming workers in the world. Those contracts provide our members with great employer-paid-for benefits, job security, fair schedules, and the right to have a say over any unsatisfactory, unfair, or unsafe working conditions or managerial decisions. Read more about our union’s contracts here.
Q: Who does the union work for?
A: The union is entirely accountable to its membership alone. Because our members fund the union and elect its leadership every three years, HTC fights for and only answers to its members.