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During NSNU’s recent Annual General Meeting, the membership approved a change to the bi-weekly union dues that will be effective September 1, 2025. Dues will be changed from flat rate, to 1.00% of salary. Percentage-based dues are the most common way unions collect dues, and is the method used by several other nurses unions across the country.
Like the method used for calculating vacation entitlement/sick leave accumulation, the 1.00% dues deduction is based on all hours paid to the maximum a fulltime nurse would pay (inclusive of paid sick leave, paid vacation leaves and the straight time hourly equivalent of overtime hours paid). It does not include overtime pay or premiums.
NSNU has achieved significant growth, incurred rising expenses, and negotiated salary rate increases for members over the last 15 years, without any dues increases in this time period. The Union has had operating losses in the last 3 years, and significant increases in costs, the top three being office costs, legal fees (in defense of NSNU members) and staff wages. In 2024, our revenue was $5.0 million, and expenses were $5.5 million, resulting in a loss of $0.5 million.
Going forward, NSNU requires revenue of $5.75 – 6.0M annually to cover its costs and a change to the fee structure was the only way to achieve this.
Members are also reminded that various types of union dues and professional membership fees can be deducted when filing your taxes. You can claim dues related to your employment.
More information on the history of this decision and how the rate was determined can be found in the discussion paper in the member’s section of the website, nsnu.ca/MembersOnly (login credentials required), dropdown menu AGM 2025, NSNU Discussion Paper on Resolution #3.
