Standard Form (SF) 1187, Authorization for Deduction of Union Dues, is used by members of supervisory or managerial organizations for authorization of dues withholding.
One of two revised versions of SF 1187 is provided by the unions and used by members of labor organizations for authorization of withholding of dues, which may include the yearly subscription price to the union’s publications. The forms used are:
- For city carrier assistant employees, SF 1187, Authorization for Deduction of Union Dues for City Carrier Assistants.
- For other bargaining unit employees, SF 1187, Authorization for Deduction of Union Dues.
Employees who are members of approved organizations are eligible to participate in dues withholding procedures.
Because of the intermittent nature of their employment, casual and most nonbargaining temporary employees are excluded from this policy.
An eligible employee may have dues deducted for up to three organizations at one time. A separate authorization is required for each organization.
The organization representative:
- Distributes appropriate forms to members who voluntarily desire to have the Postal Service withhold dues from their salary payments.
- Makes certain that the top portion of the form is completed: indicating the name and alpha code (see 923) of the organization; identifying each member by name, address, and Social Security number or Employee Identification Number; and showing the name and finance number of the installation where such member is officially assigned.
- Certifies the amount of dues to be withheld biweekly or each month from the employee’s compensation.
Distribution, collection, and certification of such forms should not be made on official time in a work area.
The organization representative submits the original SF 1187 to the postal installation where the member is employed. The installation head makes sure that the “date of delivery to employer” is entered and the form is promptly forwarded to the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC). This date cannot be entered by the organization representative, except as noted in 924.422.
The National League of Postmasters (the League) may submit the original SF 1187 through regular payroll channels to the servicing HRSSC. The National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) processes the SF 1187 for its members to initiate dues withholding.
The NRLCA National Office, which is responsible for entering the “date of delivery to employer” at the time of transmittal, submits the SF 1187 for a rural carrier.
The APWU processes SF 1187 for its members to initiate dues withholding.
The Eagan Accounting Services begins dues withholdings with the first full pay period following the receipt of a properly completed SF 1187 at the HRSSC. In the event that an SF 1187 is received at the HRSSC without the date of delivery filled in, the HRSSC enters the date of receipt as the “date of delivery,” and proceeds to process the form, using the “date of delivery” as the anniversary date. The HRSSC sends a copy of this annotated form with an appropriate explanation to the installation of origin for transmittal to the organization.
The appropriate official of each employee organization properly certifies the amount to be withheld.
When the organization changes the amount to be withheld, a blanket authorization listing the affected employees is accepted and used for such purpose by the Eagan Accounting Services. Such notice includes the employee’s name, Social Security number, finance number, effective date, and “from” and “to” dues amounts. The notice is certified by a regional or national official of the organization and forwarded to the manager of Human Resources in the area office, who indicates approval and forwards it to the Eagan Accounting Services.
The amount withheld for dues is shown on PS Form 1223-B, Earnings Statement, or Electronic Earnings Statement in ePayroll.
If an erroneous dues amount is withheld, the employee follows normal payroll inquiry procedures in questioning such deduction. The personnel office maintaining the employee’s official personnel folder (OPF) rechecks the amount authorized by the employee on the current SF 1187, and the HRSSC changes the employee payroll master record if it is in error. The Eagan Accounting Services does not make a retroactive adjustment unless the Postal Service is responsible for the error in dues withholding; e.g., if it fails to process a properly submitted SF 1187, or deducts an incorrect amount, or makes deductions for the wrong organization.
