New law would get rid of written authorization for union dues and fees in Washington

OLYMPIA - Employers hiring under a collective bargaining agreement won’t have to ask for written authorization before deducting certain dues or fees from an employee’s salary under a new law signed Friday.

Under the law, written authorization is not required before deducting fees from an employee’s pay that are necessary to enforce union security provisions within an agreement.

Supporters of the bill say it will provide more consistency in the way union dues are collected.

The law does require that employers obtain written authorization for any deduction of payment that is not for union dues or equivalent fees.

It also removes the requirement that employee’s written authorizations of deductions to be filed with the employer.