Pay Membership or Agency Fee dues here!
If you do not have dues automatically deducted from your paystub (see myHR), you can use the “Pay Here” button below to manually pay dues.
You only owe 1.44% of your gross monthly pay. To determine your amount of dues owed, find your monthly gross salary in your paystub and calculate 1.44% of that amount.
Alternatively, you can pay the default $58.25, which is the monthly dues of the highest salary in the unit. However, we also have a table for reference below with the standard dues rates across the most common degree types.
If you have questions about dues or back dues, please refer to the FAQ below or reach out to the dues@nugradworkers.org email!
Degree Type | Standard Dues Rate (1.44% of gross monthly pay) |
Standard PhD | $55.62 |
Kellogg | $56.73 |
DMA | $9.08 |
MM | $5.30 |
Frequently Asked Questions about...
Dues and Agency Fees
What are union dues, and what do they fund?
Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between NUGW and Northwestern, all graduate workers covered by the CBA are obligated to pay 1.44% of their monthly gross income as membership dues or agency fees as a condition of employment. Dues fund a strong union that can win better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Union dues go directly to NUGW-UE Local 1122 to fund the training, support, materials, staff, and other resources we need to maintain an independent, democratic, rank-and-file union.
Please be advised that bargaining unit status is NOT contingent on union membership, but is determined by the terms of the CBA.
Do I have to pay dues?
If you are covered by our contract, you can either become a member of NUGW-UE Local 1122 and pay dues or, if you choose not to become a member, pay an agency fee to the Union. This fee, which is authorized by federal law, is equivalent to union dues and covers your fair share of supporting our effort to bargain collectively with our employer and improve and defend our working conditions.
Are my dues automatically deducted?
Northwestern does not automatically collect dues or fees unless a graduate worker authorizes them to do so by signing an NUGW membership card or authorizing agency fee deductions. NUGW also does not have the power to deduct dues or fees from your paycheck. The University can only do so if authorized.
How can I pay my dues?
The most convenient way to pay dues is by signing up for payroll deduction using the digital membership/dues authorization form. By filling out this form, your dues will automatically be deducted from your paycheck and forwarded to the Union.
If you would prefer not to use this method of automatic payment, you may pay your dues directly to NUGW-UE Local 1122 on a monthly basis.
Back Dues
What are "back dues"?
Back dues are accrued during times when you were considered part of the bargaining unit (“in-unit”) but had not signed a member card or authorized agency fee deductions. Back dues will not and cannot be deducted from your paycheck.
I am no longer in-unit. Do I still have to pay back dues?
Yes. Under the conditions of the CBA, bargaining unit status is conditional on the type of position you hold rather than your enrollment in Northwestern as a graduate student. So while you may currently not be in-unit, back dues may be owed for a past quarter in which you were.
What does it mean if I receive a "back dues" invoice?
Each invoice represents a specific month for which back dues or fees are owed. The statement summary is the total amount of back dues owed. If you would like further details on those invoices, you may request them by contacting financials@nugradworkers.org.
Do I have to pay all the invoices at once?
No. While you will need to pay all back dues to be in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, you can pay the invoices individually as is within your means. The Union will never charge you interest or late fees for dues payments. However, we encourage you to pay what invoices you can as soon as possible, because collected back dues will fund NUGW’s Strike and Defense Fund in advance of our 2027 contract renegotiations.
How can I avoid having to pay back dues?
You can do so by signing a member card or authorizing agency fee deductions, which will allow Northwestern to deduct dues or fees directly from your paycheck. You can find the links to sign a member card or authorize deductions here. If you decline to do either, you will continue to accrue back dues and may face penalties as a result of failure to pay.