Paying dues is what makes TRU a true union: we make a shared financial investment and pool our resources to make this joint endeavor possible. This financial solidarity is our “shield,” ensuring we answer only to transit riders, never to corporate elites.
To sustain our expanding campaigns for regional transit equity, disability rights, and economic stabilization, TRU members approved an updated, progressive dues matrix in June 2026. Effective July 1, 2026, our baseline dues guideline slides equitably between 0.5% and 1% of monthly income, ranging from $10 per month for lower incomes up to $100 per month for high earners. Alternatively, low-income members may arrange to contribute 20 volunteer hours to TRU in lieu of monetary dues.
We ask members to self-select the tier that fits their financial reality. However, wealth should never be a barrier to organizing. Anyone who wishes to join our Union family but cannot afford monetary dues can fulfill their dues contribution by committing at least 20 hours of volunteer labor per year to TRU activities, whether that means tabling at outreach events, fueling mutual aid efforts, or diving into campaign work groups.
No matter how you contribute, all members hold equal voting rights and equal democratic standing. Lack of funds will never be a barrier to joining our movement.
Because we prioritize the political freedom to lobby and endorse candidates who fight for the working class, TRU is structured as a 501(c)(4) organization rather than a traditional, restrictive 501(c)(3) charity. This makes independent member funding and collective labor the vital lifeblood of our organizing. To keep our union responsive to our community’s needs, the General Council is tasked with reviewing this dues structure every three years and bringing any recommended adjustments back to the full membership for approval.
Want to help us scale our impact and mobilize riders across Seattle and King County? Join us as a member or make a donation today.