In my local, the union gives you back 100 dollars of the 450 dollars of PT initiation fee.
To get the 100 dollars back, you have to be permanently hired and attend the monthly Sunday morning union meeting.
After attending the meeting for about 2 hours, they give you the check.
I wish more locals did that.
All new employees should be brought in for this type of "orientation"... and the notion of a rebate on their initiation fee would likely get them there.
They should receive a brand new union t-shirt, lunch, a history lesson on unions and the Teamsters, information about their Weingarten rights, FMLA, and the grievance procedure.
While there, they will hopefully meet their business agent and steward.
Perhaps they could even roll out a big screen TV and some refreshments at the conclusion of the meeting, to encourage a little fellowship?
Until we get back to educating and engaging the membership, the "Me-ster" mindset will continue to prevail.
When we once again become vested in one another and educate the newly "initiated", we will begin to achieve all that is possible through collective bargaining.