On August 3, 1977, the Governor of the State of New York signed the "Agency Shop" bill which constitutes Chapters 677 and 678 of the Laws of 1977 and authorizes an agency shop fee deduction from the salary of State employees who are non-members of an employee organization which represents them for purposes of collective bargaining with the State of New York. Since then, all employees of the State University of New York appointed to the State payroll, except a small unrepresentated group of employees appointed to titles designated management/confidential by the New York State Public Employees' Relations Board (PERB), employees designated as "casual", and student employees appointed to the Student Assistant or College Work-Study payrolls, must pay an agency shop fee for representation even if they choose not to become dues paying members of the labor organization to which their positions have been assigned. The agency fee is an amount equivalent to the dues required of members.
Reference(s):
Civil
Service Law, Article 14, Section 208 3(a)
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?cl=18&a=33%20
last updated: Tuesday, June 29, 2004