This income scale is meant as a guideline. Please honor the contributions of all TRU members by selecting the dues level most appropriate to your income and situation.
| Income | Recommended Dues Level |
|---|---|
| Under $1500/month | $5/month* |
| $1500 to $2500/month | $10/month |
| $2500 to $3500/month | $20/month |
| $3500 to $5000/month | $30/month |
| $5000 to 8,000/month | $40/month |
| Over $8000/month | $50/month |
*If your income is severely low, such that paying $5 per month would result in hardship for you, we offer a nominal dues level of $1/per month. To choose this option, come to a Membership Meeting or other TRU event and fill out a paper application and pay with cash.
By paying your dues, you get:
• the privilege of participating in the historic struggle to win justice for poor and working people;
• the right to attend, bring motions to, and vote at TRU membership meetings;
• to be part of a community of like-minded activists, including access to the Members Area of the TRU website;
• the power of having a say in the direction of an organization that affects the world;
• the satisfaction of knowing you contributed your part to build that power.
Our dues are what sustain our organization, keep us independent from corporate/wealthy donors and the non-profit industrial complex, and keep our leaders accountable to us. All members fulfill the same obligation to support TRU according to their means, including officers and staff. All members have the same democratic rights regardless of their dues level. No one receives special treatment.
Being an independent organization of working and poor people, the Transit Riders Union has had to learn how to wage and win large campaigns — some of which put millions of dollars back into the pockets of low-income people every year — with volunteer labor and with a fraction of the budget normally required to win such big victories. As such, we retain no lavishly-compensated administrators or consultants, but accomplish everything by the active participation of large body of volunteers coordinated by a very small, modestly-compensated staff. This reliance on member participation has been a key ingredient to our success. Our overhead is extremely low, and virtually all our revenue is plowed into organizing and winning campaigns.