About CAPS-UAW
California Association of Professional Scientists, UAW Local 1115, was established in 1984 to represent the needs of state scientific workers. We are the exclusive representative of more than 6,000 scientists employed by the State of California.
We are the State Bargaining Unit 10, and together we are union strong. A vocal and active Membership will lead us to success in bargaining for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. In union, we negotiate with the State for all these, and enforce the rights we won in our contract. Involvement in your union is your way to participate and use your voice to improve your workplace. California Association of Professional Scientists, UAW Local 1115 (CAPS-UAW) is your union! Strong representation requires all represented members to contribute. Commit to standing together with your fellow State Scientists and your union. 1115 is your union!
Per our affiliation agreement, back in March 2024, members voted to affiliate with UAW with an overwhelming margin (in a super majority participation vote, 88% of members voted to affiliate). Part of the affiliation was adopting a progressive dues structure: one that is relative to someone’s salary, so percentage-based, rather than a flat amount.
Who determines the level of dues?
- UAW members do.
- Dues are determined in a democratic way by union members. The level of dues are spelled out in the UAW Constitution (see Article 16 in the UAW Constitution), which is up for amendment during the UAW Constitutional Convention that takes place every 4 years. Each Local Union has a number of delegates at the UAW Constitutional Convention based on the Local Union’s membership size.. Currently, UAW members pay 1.44% of salary as dues. UAW members that do not have the legal right to strike, pay 1.095% of salary as dues . Dues vary depending on the net worth of the International Strike and Defense Fund.
The schedule for dues changes per the CAPS-UAW affiliation agreement, for rank-and-file employees:
- April 1, 2025, our dues will be 1.44% with a cap of $79.
- April 1, 2026, our dues will be 1.44% with a cap of $100.
- April 1, 2027, our dues will be 1.44% with a cap of $150.
- January 1, 2028, our dues will be 1.44%. Note, effective January 1, 2028, our dues will be 1.44%, as outlined in our CAPS-UAW bylaws. The progressive dues structure is equal to about 2.5 hours of straight pay a month $1.44 for every $100 dollars earned.