Every year, usually in June or July, UPTE will send you a notification that they are going to collect money (called agency fees or fair share fees). This notice is called an agency fee or Hudson notice. The deadline for requesting a partial refund for the July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 period has expired. You also have a right to challenge UPTE's calculation of your refund. Here is what you should write to get part of your money back for the next period (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) assuming that you will be employed by UC at that time:

Dear UPTE Agency Fee Administrator

"I am a California public employee at the University of California represented by UPTE-CWA Local 9119. I wish to object to paying the non chargeable portion of the agency shop fees for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. I also wish to challenge the calculation and allocation of these expenses."

Name:

Address:

I alert everyone on my mailing list as to when to email the letter. There is a limited time period in which you can send this letter to UPTE (I take care of this for those letters sent to me), usually sometime in summer, 30 days after UPTE issues what is called an Agency Fee Notice. I collect these letters and have them legally served on UPTE so we can ensure UPTE receives your letter. We retain proof of mailing and a copy of your letter. I ask that you email your objection letter to me at wwitke@san.rr.com. If you are a union member, the procedure is different, you have to first quit. In that case, you have 30 days from the date of your resignation from the union to request a partial refund, see the link quit for details.