Opt Out Today

RFPU – NW

To opt out of RFPU – NW dues:

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

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The Resident & Fellow Physician Union – Northwest (RFPU – NW) is the designated representing 1,500 residents and fellows employed by the University of WA. RFPU – NW is affiliated with The Committee of Interns and Residents CIR – SEIU Healthcare Local 1957 and is based in Long Island, New York.

For years, public employees in Washington State have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like the RFPU – NW 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.

You can opt out of RFPU – NW 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?

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 RFPU – NW 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 RFPU – NW dues?

According to federal filings, the RFPU – NW dues are 1.6% of your salary, or as high as $1,1712.63 per year.

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

Yes. The RFPU – NW 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, the RFPU – NW 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 the RFPU – NW.

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

While the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will still govern your employment, as a nonmember, the union may choose to prevent you from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings or voting in union elections, including contract ratification votes. Unions also commonly withhold any special “members-only” deals or discounts the union has arranged for 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 RFPU – NW spend my dues money?

As mentioned, RFPU – NW  is an affiliate of CIR SEIU, a private organization with minimal obligations to disclose financial information to members.

However, the IRS requires unions’ 990 tax return to be a public document, and these can be found online at sites like this. CIR SEIU reports using the Employer Identification Number EIN 13-2771401.

Additionally, CIR SEIU is required to file annual financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor that provide more detailed information about the union’s finances, including how much it spends on certain political and lobbying activities.

CIR SEIU

CIR SEIU Healthcare collected $21.4 million in dues and fees from its members in calendar year
2024, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

In 2024 alone:

$2.3 million in payments to affiliates such as SEIU International and SEIU Massachusetts State Council.

$419,606 was spent by CIR SEIU on political activity, lobbying, gifts and grants.

$1.5 million was spent on hotel venues and travel expenses for union staff, including $732,366 at the OMNI Shoreham, a “Luxury Washington Hotel” in downtown Washington DC.

$14,500 was spent on the Los Angeles Athletic Club. An exclusive members-only club is downtown Los Angeles, CA.

$67,951 was spent on food and catering.

CIR SEIU paid 178 officers and employees in 2024, 56 of whom were paid six figures in total compensation. Executive Director, Susan Naranjo was paid $241,389 and the union reported a total of $8.9 million in spare cash assets.

The most recent report filed by CIR SEIU is available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021.