Teamsters Local 340

To opt out of Teamsters 340 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, and make two copies.
Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.
Provide a copy to your employer’s payroll officer and keep a copy for your files.

Teamsters Local 340 is the designated union for approximately 3,700 public employees in Maine, including municipal employees, firefighters, police, and freight workers.

For years, public employees in Maine have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like Teamsters 340 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 union dues.

You can opt out of Teamsters 340 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 Teamsters 340 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 Teamsters 340 dues?

According to federal filings, Teamsters 340 dues can be as high as $2,124 per year. Additionally, new members accrue an initiation fee, ranging from $30 to $300.

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

Yes. Teamsters 340 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, Teamsters 340 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 Teamsters 340.

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 Teamsters 340 spend my dues money?

Teamsters Local 340

Teamsters 340 collected $2.8 million in dues and fees from its members in 2024, according to LM-2 reports, which the union is required to file with the Department of Labor.

In 2024 alone:

$635,178 went to affiliated organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C., to support its massive political, economic, and social agenda. IBT regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
$318,144 was spent on property acquisitions and vehicle purchases.
$1,072,912 was spent on total disbursements for union employees and officers.
$43,709 was paid or contributed to various outside organizations.

Teamsters 340 paid at least 13 officers and employees in 2024, 6 of whom were paid 6 figures. President Brett Miller received the highest compensation at $175,680. Additionally, the union reported spending $91,694 more than revenue, resulting in a budget deficit.

Teamster 340’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

A portion of the dues paid by Teamsters 340 members goes to support the Teamsters Joint Council 10.

Teamsters Joint Council 10

Teamsters Joint Council 10 collected $2.1 million from its affiliated local unions in 2025, according to LM-2 reports, which the union is required to file with the Department of Labor.

In 2025 alone:

$80,031 was spent on hotels, conferences, and catering.
$101,692 was paid or contributed to various outside organizations.
$853,810 was spent on total disbursements for union employees and officers.
Teamster Joint Council 10 reported a cash stockpile of $2.3 million.

Teamsters Joint Council 10 paid at least 18 officers and employees, 4 of whom were paid 6 figures. The Director of Organizing, Christopher Smolinsky, received the highest compensation at $157,349.

Teamsters Joint Council 10’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

Lastly, a portion of the dues paid by Teamsters 340 members also goes to support the international union.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit with the Department of Labor, IBT headquarters collected $215 million from local affiliated unions in 2024.

In 2024 alone:

$8.5 million was spent by IBT on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying.
$4 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$9.4 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel.
$1.8 million was spent on conferences, events, and catering. This figure includes a $250,000 expense at Caesar’s Entertainment in Las Vegas, Nevada.
$3.1 million was spent on public relations, advertising, and promotional items.
$58.2 million was spent on total disbursements for union employees and officers.

IBT paid 655 employees and officers in 2024, 253 of whom were paid six figures. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien received the highest compensation at $431,043, reflecting a pay increase of $11,821 from last year.

Additionally, IBT reported ending the year with a cash stockpile of $75.8 million.

IBT’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.