Section 1. (a) The dues of the Local Union Members affiliated with the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, and with the Michigan State Utility Workers Council, shall be paid monthly to the National Union in accordance with the Constitution of the Utility Workers Union of America, as outlined in Article VI of said Constitution. The dues paid to the National Union will continue to be adjusted each January in accordance with the National Constitution. However, if the dues to the National Union are increased in any subsequent year, that amount will be absorbed by the Council.  

(b) The Michigan State Utility Workers Council shall maintain a Special Action Fund overseen by the Executive Board.  The purpose of the Special Action Fund shall be to fund special actions on behalf of the membership as identified by the Executive Board and approved by the delegate body.  The Special Action Fund shall be funded as follows:  Monthly, prior to the dues split described in Section 2(a) of this Article, one dollar per member per week of per capita shall be placed in the Special Action Fund.  Funding of the Special Action Fund may be discontinued or recommenced by a majority vote of the Dlegates present and voting at a regular Council Meeting. 

Section 2. (a) The remaining portion of dues collected shall be split on a 50/50 basis between the Local Union and the Michigan State Utility Workers Council, until the Council's liquid assets have increased to above Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000), at which time the split shall become 55/45 in favor of the Local Union and shall remain in effect until the Council's liquid assets fall below Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($450,000), at which time the split shall revert back to 50/50.  Should the Council's liquid assets increase above Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000), the split shall become 60/40 in favor of the Local Union and shall remain in effect until the Council's liquid assets fall below Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000), at which time the split shall revert back to the 55/45 split in favor of the Local Union.  The Council's liquid financial assets shall include money balances in all accounts, checking, savings, money markets, certificates of deposit and investment funds, excluding fixed assets (e.g. property, buildings, inventories and equipment and other non-liquid funds, e.g. PAC, Scholarship, Special Assessment).  The liquid asset amounts eferred to in this section shall be calculated the day after monthly per capita dues are paid.  

(b) The dues to Members of Local Unions affiliated with the Council shall be one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) of that Member's current straight-time hourly wage rate, including Cost of Living Allowance if applicable, times forty (40) hours per week, regardless of the number of straight-time hours that a Member receives in any given week. 

(c) By action of a majority vote of the Delegates at a Regular Council Meeting, a special dues assessment for abnormal or emergency situations may be called for. Any such assessment must be temporary and not excessive as to cause undue financial strain on the Local Union Members affiliated with the Council. Any special assessment may be designated specifically for the Local Unions, the Michigan State Utility Workers Council, or both.

Section 3. If any member or members of any Local or Locals, for any reason whatsoever, are exonerated from payment of dues by the National office of the Utility Workers Union of America in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Union, they shall continue to be carried on the books of the Council as members in good standing, with full voice and vote for such period of time as may be determined by the National office of the UWUA, AFL-CIO.

Section 4. New members shall be required to pay an initiation fee not to be more than the maximum set forth in the National Constitution.