AFSCME 2250

To opt out of AFSCME 2250 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.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2250 is the designated union for approximately 6,000 classified school employees in Prince George’s County Public Schools.

For years, public employees in Maryland have been forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment, allowing unions to take their members for granted. However, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will. (Janus v. AFSCME, 2018).

“States and public-sector unions may no longer extract [funds] from nonconsenting employees. . . . This procedure violates the First Amendment and cannot continue.”

Consequently, public employees may decline to pay these private organizations without losing their jobs or employer-provided benefits.

It is important to know that AFSCME 2250 may continue to automatically withhold dues from employees’ pay even if they never signed up for membership in the first place. The best way to ensure the deductions stop is to submit a request to the union in writing.

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.

Because it has a financial interest in continuing to withhold dues from your pay, the union may contact you and attempt to persuade you to keep your membership. Their sales pitch may include untrue claims and scare tactics. It is a good idea to try to document any questionable claims made by union representatives. Do not be bullied! If you stand your ground, there is nothing the union can do to retaliate against you for opting out.

Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. Contact the union if the deductions continue more than a couple paychecks after you submit your resignation request.

Some unions have tricked employees into signing membership forms with fine print waiving their right to resign except during a short annual window period. If the union claims you signed such a form and therefore cannot cancel the dues deductions from your pay, ask to be provided with documentation that you ever signed such an agreement.

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

Yes. AFSCME 2250 has been empowered by the state to represent those in your workplace. Employees are not allowed to negotiate their own compensation or handle their own grievances with their employer, nor can they hire another person or entity to represent them.

In exchange for this unusual benefit, AFSCME 2250 is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

Consequently, 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 employer-provided wages, health care, retirement or other benefits if I opt out?

No. All provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and your employer will continue to govern your employment. Your wages, health benefits, retirement and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of AFSCME 2250.

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.

Sometimes people have a faith-based objection to unions’ expenditures on causes like abortion advocacy and attacks on values. Additionally, the core union philosophy of conflict, oath-breaking, disrespect and greed also can be perceived as contrary to many religious beliefs. To learn more about the major public unions’ expenditures in light of common faith beliefs click here.

How much are AFSCME 2250 dues?

According to the union’s constitution, AFSCME 2250 dues are deducted biweekly at rates of:

12 and 11 month employees dues shall not be less than $17.57 for those who work 20 hours or less and $18.91 per pay period for employees who work over 20 hours per week.

10 month employees dues shall not be less than $17.70 for those who work 20 hours or less and $19.03 per pay period for employees who work over 20 hours per week.

There is no maximum amount of dues listed.

How does the union spend my dues money?

AFSCME 2250

AFSCME 2250 collected $2 million from its members in 2023, according to 990 reports the union is required to file with the IRS.

In 2023 alone:

$82,198 was spent on office expenses.

$780,074 was spent on salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits for union staff.
$727,624 went to affiliates like the national headquarters of AFSCME and the NEA to support their massive political, economic, and social agenda. AFSCME HQ and the NEA regularly support a host of controversial organizations.
$499,500 was spent under the category of “other”.

AFSCME 2250 reported having a cash stockpile of over $3.1 million by the end of the fiscal year. The union also spent $361,629 over its total amount of revenue, resulting in a budget deficit.

AFSCME 2250’s most recent IRS 990 reports are available here: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018.

A portion of the dues paid by AFSCME 2250 members goes to AFSCME International in Washington, D.C.

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit with 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 ideologically driven 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.

AFSCME 2250 is also affiliated with the Maryland State Education Association and the National Education Association. If members of AFSCME 2250 opt to join MSEA, a portion of the dues paid by AFSCME 2250 members is allocated to both MSEA and the NEA.

Maryland State Education Association

MSEA collected $23.4 million from its members in fiscal year 2024, according to 990 reports the union is required to file with the IRS.

In fiscal year 2024 alone:

$1.3 million was paid or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
$979,755 was spent on travel for union staff.
$556,525 was spent on conferences, conventions, and meetings.

2 million was spent on salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits for union staff.

MSEA paid at least 102 officers and employees in fiscal year 2024. Of those officers and employees, 59 received six figures, and out of the 59, at least 11 received over $200,000 in total compensation. Executive Director Sean Johnson received the highest compensation at $341,241.

Additionally, MSEA reported a cash stockpile and savings of $5.2 million.

MSEA’s most recent IRS 990 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

National Education Association

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the Department of Labor, NEA headquarters collected over $381 million from local affiliates through member dues in 2024.

In 2024 alone:

$40.4 million was spent by NEA HQ on divisive political candidates, lobbying, and support for organizations engaged in political causes.
$16.2 million was paid or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
$18.4 million was spent on conferences, events, and catering throughout the year.
$13.7 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel. This figure includes a total amount of $1,117,652 charged at Caesar’s resort collection in Las Vegas, NV.

NEA HQ paid 693 employees in 2024, with 419 receiving six-figure salaries. NEA HQ’s President, Rebecca Pringle, was paid $481,161.

As of 2024, NEA HQ has accumulated a cash stockpile of $146,331,184.

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