Original Message

Salary times 1% = union dues.

Let x = union dues.

Contract negotiations.  union looking to up their coffers by negotiating items they can charge dues for (salaries). 

Trade non-dues generating contractual items away to gain an increase in dues generating contractual items.

Give away base protection clause for dues increase.

Now:

Old Salary + 3% = New dues collected + 3%

Old dues paid in < new dues paid in.

Trade things away not important to union itself to increase dues paid in to union.

Union Member is the sucker to the Union!