AFSCME Council 31

To opt out of AFSCME Council 31 dues:

Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
Print the form. If you check the appropriate box about needing a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
Sign and date the form.
Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.

AFSCME Council 31 is the designated union for approximately 70,000 employees in Illinois, including state, local government, and school district employees.

For years, public employees in Illinois have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like AFSCME Council 31 to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.

The court ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated workers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and that public employees have the right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.

You can opt out of AFSCME Council 31 dues by filling out the form above, printing it, and mailing it to the union.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I send my resignation to the union?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

In most cases, union dues are automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks. Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. If the deductions continue for more than a couple of pay periods after submitting your opt-out request, contact the union.

Finally, keep in mind:

Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like AFSCME Council 31 sometimes place restrictions on when they will accept opt-out requests. If the union refuses to immediately cancel dues deductions from your pay, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance

How much are AFSCME Council 31 dues?

According to federal filings, AFSCME Council 31 dues can be as high as $62.13 per month, or $745.56 per year.

Will the union continue to represent me if I opt out?

Yes. AFSCME Council 31 has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning it is impossible for workers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues.

In exchange for the monopoly on this particular service, AFSCME Council 31 is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and your employer will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment, and the union will continue to represent you in grievances, contract enforcement, discipline assistance, or other proceedings governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

Will I lose wages, health care, retirement, or other benefits if I opt out?

No. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of AFSCME Council 31.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the contract will still govern your employment, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, voting for union officers, or participating in contract ratification votes. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members-only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.

Why do people opt out of the union?

People have many reasons for not wanting to support the union. Some simply do not believe the services the union provides are worth the dues it charges. Others may find the union’s one-size-fits-all agenda does not serve them well because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or believe their effectiveness is undercompensated. Some resent the union’s role in enabling and defending underperforming employees. Many find the union’s political activity and use of dues to advance partisan causes, candidates and ideology distasteful. Still others believe that union officials are corrupt and unaccountable to their membership.

Unions representing public employees are not governed by the usual consumer protection or anti-trust laws, so abuses are common. Unions can charge whatever they wish. They can spend dues money on anything they want. Often, they do not have to disclose how dues money is spent to members. They can speak for employees without consulting or informing them. They can injure some members’ interests while advancing the interests of others. Unions even have the ability to prevent employees from getting help in their workplace from other sources. They are not governed by any obligation to provide quality service, and almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

How does AFSCME Council 31 spend my dues money?

AFSCME Council 31

According to reports that the union must file with the U.S. Department of Labor, AFSCME Council 31 collected $28.2 million in dues and fees from members and local affiliates in 2025.

In 2025 alone:

$3.3 million was spent by Council 31 on divisive political candidates, campaigns, and lobbying.
$206,133 was paid to or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
$474,349 was spent on union advertising, promotional items, and printing services.
$124,604 was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel expenses.
$487,249 was spent on conferences, meetings, events, and catering.
$13.5 million was spent on total disbursements for officers and employees.

AFSCME Council 31 paid 169 officers and employees in 2025, with 83 receiving six-figures in compensation. The AFSCME Council 31’s Associate Director, Michael Newman, received the highest total compensation of $200,140.

Additionally, the union reported having $23.1 million in total liabilities by the end of the year.

AFSCME Council 31’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

A portion of the dues paid by AFSCME Council 31 members goes to support the AFSCME HQ.

AFSCME HQ

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the U.S. Department of Labor, AFSCME HQ collected over $211 million from members and local affiliated unions in 2025.

In 2025 alone:

$44.7 million was spent by the AFSCME HQ on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying. This figure includes an expense of $500,000 to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
$2.8 million was paid to or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
$6.8 million was spent on union advertising, promotional items, printing services, and media firms.
$2.2 million was spent on conferences, meetings, events, and catering.
$5.5 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel.
$60.9 million was spent on total disbursements for officers and employees.

AFSCME HQ paid 519 officers and employees in 2025, with 307 receiving six-figures in compensation. The AFSCME HQ’s Federal Glove Director, Edwin Jayne, received the highest total compensation of $449,747.

AFSCME’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.