AFSCME Council 81

To opt out of AFSCME Council 81 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.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 81 is the designated union for nearly 7,000 state, local government, and school employees in Delaware.

For years, public employees in Delaware have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like AFSCME Council 81 to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent 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 81 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 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 81 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 81 dues?

According to federal filings, AFSCME Council 81 dues are currently set at a minimum of $22.65 per month with a maximum of $24.

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

Yes. AFSCME Council 81 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 81 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 81.

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 they 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 81 spend my dues money?

AFSCME Council 81

AFSCME Council 81 collected $1,254,836 in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2024, according to LM-2 reports the union is required to file with the Department of Labor.

In fiscal year 2024:

$51,674 was spent on political activities and lobbying.
$11,162 was paid or contributed to various organizations, many of which are ideologically driven.
$642,639 was spent on compensation of current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees.

AFSCME Council 81’s Executive Director, Michael Begatto, received $139,531 in total compensation.

Additionally, AFSCME Council 81 reported a cash stockpile of $1,225,846.

AFSCME Council 81’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

A portion of the dues paid by AFSCME Council 81 members goes to support AFSCME national headquarters.

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the Department of Labor, AFSCME headquarters collected over $192 million from local affiliated unions in 2024.

In 2024 alone:

$51.5 million was spent by the AFSCME HQ on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying. This figure includes an expense of $1,250,000 to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
$1.5 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$2.2 million was spent on office expenses, promotional items, and union advertising.
$13.5 million was spent on conferences and catering throughout the year.
$2.6 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel for union staff.

AFSCME HQ paid 510 employees in 2024, 280 of whom were paid six figures. AFSCME HQ’s International President, Lee Saunders, was paid $413,861.

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