Work dues are to be paid by all Local 1000 members who are working in the music industry. These payments fund the bulk of the operating expenses of the Local (most of our membership dues go straight to the American Federation of Musicians and do not stay in our own Local). If you are not filing contracts, you must make a Work Dues Buyout payment.
Work Dues Buy Out Program: Members who do not file contracts outside of their geographic local or who do not have a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are required to participate in the annual Work Dues Buy Out Program of this Union. Work Dues Buy Out is due yearly as per the schedule set forth below. Automatic monthly payments may be set up to avoid late fees and penalties. If not setting up automatic payments, members must pay the full yearly amount in one sum, due upon receipt of invoice. NOTE: You must file an average of 2 union contracts per month in the previous year before you can opt out of the dues buyout.
Penalty for Non-payment of Work Dues Buy Out: Late fees and penalties will be waived for all of calendar year 2026. Beginning in January 2027, any member who fails to pay the annual work dues buy out within the first quarter of their invoicing period shall be required to pay a late fee of $10 (USD) per year, together with current work dues buy out amount due (including any other arrearages), in order to avoid suspension and expulsion or to reinstate their membership.
Work Dues Buy Out Structure: All members who do not file contracts outside of their geographic local or who do not have a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will choose one of the following amounts yearly to pay the work dues buy out.*
The annual buyout amounts in U.S. dollars are:
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- US: $60/Canada: $54.25 (represents work dues on $200 USD per month scale wages)
OR - US: $120/Canada: $108.50 (represents work dues on $400 USD per month in scale wages)
- US: $60/Canada: $54.25 (represents work dues on $200 USD per month scale wages)
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Once you have chosen your buyout amount for the year, you may either pay it all at once or divide it into small monthly automatic payments as follows:
Monthly automatic payment amounts (shown in US dollars):
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- US: $60 = $5 per month; Canada: $4.50 per month
OR - US: $120 = $10 per month; Canada: $9.00 per month
- US: $60 = $5 per month; Canada: $4.50 per month
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New Member Exemption: New members shall be exempt from the Buy Out until the following yearly billing period, unless they choose to participate in the Work Dues Buy Out Program at the time of joining.
When you are filling out the form below, make sure to specify the amount you want to pay. You can make one lump sum annual payment or, if you want to make a smaller monthly recurring payment, enter the monthly amount, then make sure to check the box below the payment amount that says:
Anyone is welcome to pledge a higher buyout amount if they wish. Just figure out what you want to pay annually and divide it by 12 if you wish to make automatic monthly payments.
NOTE: If you have been paying Estimated Work Dues (EWD), this new buyout program will take the place of EWD as of January 2026. This replaces what we once called "Work Dues Equivalency" or "Estimated Work Dues" and is now mandatory if you have not filed an average of 2 contracts per month during the previous year. If you need help, contact staff at office@local1000.org.
- If you are not working as a musician but wish to support the ongoing work of the Local, you can make a Solidarity Pledge payment of whatever amount you would like to contribute. This can be a one-time payment or a recurring monthly payment.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Work Dues paid to Local 1000 may be tax-deductible in the U.S. as “professional fees,” but we have heard differing opinions on this point, so please check with your tax specialist to confirm.