If you work for the State in California, you have no choice but to pay a "fair share" payroll deduction that goes to unions. For a few dollars more, you belong to aunion that collectively bargains on your behalf. It costs about $800 a year. While I worked for California Department of Consumer Affairs, I was a member of the SEIU, a humongous Union. There is no choice if you want a voice in collective bargaining. (Even then, in the last vote most peopleI talked to were going to vote against Arnold's contract and wait until Jerry was Gov. The Union reported that their membership overwhelmingly approved the contract [do they sub out that task to Egypt? ].) Anyway, when you retire, you figure you are done with them. Not so fast.
On my first retirement check I saw a deduction for CSEA. What's that? Turns out, it's an "affiliate" of SEIU. SEIU lobbied for a special law that allows them to continue to take your money even after you retire through their "affiliate" California State Employees Association, CSEA Retirees, Inc. When you call them to inquire, they are quite arrogant. They say you are automatically enrolled "by law" and if you want to leave, you have to notify them in writing. Also, you will be charged until the following month. At best, if you detect their scam in your first retirement check, you'll be charged until your third check. Nothing you can do about it. With 1.5 million PERS members, that means SEIU/CSEA can legally suck some $15 million out of our pockets, and there ain't a thing we can do about it.
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