A ballot is currently being conducted in each DHB to determine whether the DHB will have a bargaining fee for non-ASMS members or not. The ballot closes next Friday, 3 February and all employees eligible for coverage of the new ASMS DHB MECA should have received a ballot form and explanatory notes.

If you have not received your ballot please contact the relevant ASMS scrutineer from the list below.

For a full explanation of the bargaining fee it is well worth referring to the In Depth article on the homepage of the ASMS website but briefly, a bargaining fee is a legislative right to have non-union members (who benefit directly as a result of union negotiations), pay a fee as a contribution to those negotiations.

This right was introduced to remove what is known as “free loading” where union member’s fees were spent on negotiating terms and conditions of employment and non-union members received the benefits without any contribution.

Through a bargaining fee ballot all employees who might benefit from the union’s work are asked to vote as to non-union members paying their way as described above. If the ballot is won then non-union members who accept the recent MECA increases and other benefits will have a fee equivalent to the ASMS subscription deducted in four pay periods from their salaries. This will then be passed on to the ASMS.

In fairness there are several reasons why possible members have not joined the ASMS and please note that only a small proportion of the workforce has not done so. Most non-members have simply not got around to joining and some think they are already members; some have philosophical objections.

Non-members can avoid the bargaining fee by simply joining the ASMS. They must do so before 28 February 2012. It is in fact logical to join the Association for the same cost as the bargaining fee and then, as a member, be eligible to access all of the various benefits rather than pay the fee.

Non-members who chose not to join the ASMS can ‘opt out’ of the bargaining fee but must do so before 28 February 2012; those who opt out will not receive the salary increase and other benefits.

We urge all ASMS members to vote and to vote in favour of the bargaining fee. It is only fair that all those who benefit from the bargaining should pay their share.