APOC – DUES INCREASE…

Dear Members, 
As per the National Constitution, please be advised of the following:
Article 10
Finances
10.1 The amount of the annual membership dues including the per capita assessed cost for the Association’s Group Life Insurance plan payable by each member of the Association shall be 1.28 per cent of the maximum salary of an APOC 1 or its equivalent under any subsequent job evaluation plan. This amount to be settled annually in twenty-four (24) equal payments. 

10.1.1 Increase in dues becomes effective only on the first day of the month following the month in which a salary increase becomes effective.
Effective May 1, 2010 the dues collected will increase to $60.00 per month from the current amount of $57.00 – a $3.00 per month increase.
The National Executive has voted to not implement immediately the provisions of Article 10 as outlined above and have instead agreed to enact a progressive series of dues increases over the next 3 years. As indicated in the upcoming dues increase for this year, the National Executive has voted a $ 3.00 per month increase to take effect in May 2011 and May 2012. 
It is important to note that while the Association will be raising the dues by a considerable amount, according to the provisions of the above noted article, in May 2012 a member will be paying $ 66.00 per month when as per the terms of the article, they would be paying $ 71.00 per month. 
The Association does not take the dues increases for granted nor does it believe that in this day and age of cost constraints, that we are exempt from such requirements. The National Executive has also made amendments to our regulations in efforts to save on various Expenses however, at the end of the day, the cost of representation continues to rise. 
For example:
From 2001 to 2003 these approximate costs were $ 6500.00 per month and for the 3 year period from 2004 to 2006 they jumped to $ 16, 500.00 per month. The most current 3 year period from 2007 to 2009 saw the monthly average double once again to approximately $ 32,000.00 per month.
Why the increase? 
Of a review performed of the years 2008 and 2009, half of the cases of a hearing where a member was discharged took on an added element greater than at any time in our past, the increased element of “HEALTH”. To this point, Doctors, Psychiatrists and other professionals are far more involved now in our cases than at any time before. With this involvement of course comes the added cost associated with at times multiple meetings prior to the hearings, reviews of the entire medical/other documentation in the file and the scheduling of hearings which take into account the Practices of these individuals. 
This one component shows no sign of slowing down and of the cases already on file in 2010 at the National level; over half require the involvement of Medical Professionals. 
The Association treats the issue of dues with the utmost of respect and consideration for all members. We recognize the importance placed upon us to operate in a fiscally responsible manner and it is one in which we shall not waiver from this mandate. 
Together / Ensemble