10.31.25 – Treasurer’s Update: An Update on Dues and Income

Friday, October 31, 2025

Treasurer’s Update:
An Update on Dues and Income

In this hotline:

• Where We Stand: APFA’s Financial Stability
• Dues & Fees Performance
• Spending Your Dues Wisely
• What You Can Do: Addressing Your Dues Balance

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Where We Stand

At last week’s Fall Board meeting, I presented our mid-fiscal year financial update and shared progress on key fiscal areas, including dues/fees income, arrears recovery, and membership performance.

Over the last three years, our collective efforts have significantly improved the financial stability of your Union.

Since 2022, we’ve sent over 2,355 alert letters to 1,970 members, representing $1,086,448 in dues arrears. Of that amount:

• $362,488 has been paid in full,
• $369,560 is being paid through active Conditional Payment Arrangements, and
• Unfortunately, two members were discharged earlier this year for non-payment of dues.

We’ve also initiated 557 Conditional Payment Arrangements, covering $512,565 in arrears. To date, $397,246 has been paid, $115,319 remains outstanding, and 65 arrangements are currently in default.

Finally, the Executive Committee has reviewed 141 Dues Forgiveness requests across the last 12 meetings, resulting in four approved requests.

From 2022 to 2023, we reduced total dues arrears by 49.8% and the number of members in arrears by 56.3%.

However, since 2023, the number of members in arrears has increased by 8%, even as the total arrears balance decreased by 20.3%.

This may seem disproportionate, but there’s a clear explanation:

Over the past year, we’ve seen a substantial number of large, long-standing arrears balances — some exceeding $10,000 — cleared through Payment Arrangements. At the same time, we’ve seen a rise in new, smaller arrears cases — many in the range of $20.50 to $82.00 — often caused by single missed deductions or short paychecks. In other words, the total dollar amount is going down, but the number of individual members with a balance has gone up.

This increase has been driven largely by:

• Members with insufficient funds in their paychecks — since union dues are the last deduction taken, those whose earnings are reduced by flying less than 70 hours, leaves, or other factors may not have enough remaining for deduction;
• Members planning for retirement, who have opted to direct a large portion, sometimes even 100%, of their paychecks to their 401(k); and
• Members taking voluntary or non–exempt leaves, who may not realize that dues remain obligated during those periods.

As of September 2025, 2,969 members are in arrears:

• 1,749 active members currently flying the line,
• 1,169 members on leave, and
• 51 non-members.

While that’s still a marked improvement from 7,515 members in arrears in 2022, it underscores that we must remain consistent and collective in ensuring every eligible member fulfills their dues obligations.

Dues & Fees Performance

Between April and September 2025, APFA billed $6.77 million in dues and fees and collected $6.25 million — achieving only 92.45% of billed income and only 91.9% of our budget target.

Our membership income continues to demonstrate strong performance, but uncollected dues still create avoidable gaps that slow our ability to reinvest in our next round of negotiations, legal support for grievances, and staffing and technology for better member representation.

Spending Your Dues Wisely

Your dues dollars are being spent both responsibly and as intended. During the first quarter this fiscal year (April – June), we spent 2.7% less than budgeted, ensuring resources were used efficiently without reducing the quality of member services, communications, or contract implementation and enforcement.

However, without the $440,475 collected in past-due arrears during the first quarter, APFA would have faced difficult choices, particularly cuts to representatives available which would reduce services and representation to the membership — not because of overspending, but because 100% of our membership is not paying 100% of their dues.

Every member’s participation matters, not only for fairness but for maintaining the full scope of representation our profession deserves.

What You Can Do: Addressing Your Dues Balance

If you currently have a dues balance or have received any alerts, please take action now.

• Visit the MemberPortal (My Account section) of the APFA website to view your balance, download mailed statements, and review your billing history.
• If you believe there is an error on your account, submit a Claim of Clerical or Administrative Error Form in the MemberPortal.
• Set up or reinstate a Payment Arrangement (now available for up to 24 months). Contact the APFA Dues department at [email protected] or (817) 540-0108 option 3.
• Apply for Hardship Dues Forgiveness if you’re facing verifiable financial challenges.
• Contact the APFA Dues Department for more specific information.

In Solidarity,

Erik Harris
APFA National Treasurer
[email protected]