Withdrawal, also called Honorable Withdrawal, is a voluntary inactive status. It allows you to make yourself inactive, which means that you will NOT owe dues while on withdrawal. However, you will not be eligible to work or be on the call board. Members on an inactive status shall not be permitted to vote or be listed as available for work on the Union Call Board. While the Local 399 Bylaws also state members on an inactive status are unable to attend meetings, the Local 399 Executive Board still allows inactive members to be involved in Local Union events and come to Union meetings. Additionally, withdrawn members’ beneficiaries are unable to claim the additional $10,000 Teamsters death benefit. You must pay dues and notify the front office when you are ready to return to work or be listed in the Call Board as be available.

Withdrawal requests must be received IN WRITING. They can be submitted under the “Pay Dues” section of our website or emailed directly to office@ht399.org. Please include your name, last 4 of your SSN, and that you are requesting to take an Honorable Withdrawal. Requests over the phone will NOT be processed.

Withdrawal requests are typically processed in 1-2 business days. You will receive an email from our Front Office team notifying you that either your request was successfully processed and you are now on Honorable Withdrawal, OR that you have an outstanding balance that needs to be paid before you can be placed on withdrawal. You should NOT consider yourself on withdrawal status until you receive a confirmation email.

To return to an ACTIVE status, please contact the Front Office at: 818-985-7374 and pay for the dues owed. Please note, if you are returning to work, you will want to call to return your status to ACTIVE and in good-standing prior to beginning any new job to avoid any disruption to your employment as again you cannot work on a Withdrawal status.

Yes. You must make the requisite dues payment to return to active status. You may not come off withdrawal without making a payment.

No, dues payments are expected in full for the current Quarter. In an instance where you are returning from a Withdrawal status, your dues will be prorated for only the remainder of the current Quarter. Please see the section regarding taking a Withdrawal below for more information.

No. You resume payments based on the month you become active again. We prorate within the quarter, meaning that if you come back in the first month, you owe the full dues. If you come back in the second month, you owe for the second and third months. If you come back in the last month, you only owe for that month.

No. When you are a Withdrawal status, you are not able to be listed as AVAILABLE for work.

Yes, but you must return your status to active before starting work.

There is no maximum or minimum limit. However, extended periods without working could impact your CSATF Grouping status if you are on the Industry Experience Roster and/or Motion Picture Pension & Health Benefits. You will need to reach out to CSATF/ MPI if you are unsure of your standing with them.

Yes. You must make the requisite dues payment to return to active status. You may not come off withdrawal without making a payment.

The callboard tracks the status of everyone working. If you work while on withdrawal, you will receive a notice that you have a limited time to pay the dues owed or your case will be escalated to your business agent. Contractually, working on withdrawal could affect your ability to remain employed.

No. It is not reported to Contract Services. As long as you maintain the CSATF requirements, such as safety classes, you will not lose your grouping. If you have concerns, you need to reach out to them directly at 818-565-0550.

Working 1 day every 3 years (IER)

No. Withdrawal status is not reported to MPI. If you have concerns about your pension or health plan, you need to contact them at 818-769-0007.

• Break in service
• Vested

No. You will need to be 100% up to date on dues before you are able to take an ‘honorable withdrawal.’

Suspension is an automatic process that occurs when a member’s account falls more than 90 days late on dues. Per the Local 399 By-Laws, any member three months behind in payments of dues, fines, or assessments shall automatically stand suspended at the end of the third month.

For example: For the first quarter of the year, dues are owed on January 1st. If no payment is received, on April 1st your account will be automatically suspended.

Your account is inactive. You are not eligible to work or be on the callboard until a payment is made. Additionally, suspended members’ beneficiaries are unable to claim the additional $10,000 death benefit.

The Local sends out certified mail to all suspended members. The letter contains information regarding the amount of dues and fees owed to return your status to good-standing. The letter is sent via certified mail to ensure that all suspended members are notified in a timely manner.

Per the Local 399 Bylaws, any member three months behind in payments of dues, fines, or assessments shall automatically stand suspended at the end of the third month and shall not be entitled of any rights or privileges of Membership. Inactive members shall not be permitted to hold office or vote and shall have only such right to participate in the meetings and affairs of the Local Union as shall be uniformly permitted by the Local Union Executive Board. While inactive members may not work under a union position, vote, or be listed as available on the call board, the Local 399 Executive Board still allows inactive members to be involved in the Local and come to meetings. Additionally, suspended members’ beneficiaries are unable to claim the additional $10,000 death benefit.

A re-initiation fee is a one-time fee paid to reinstate membership after being suspended. The re-initiation fee must be paid in full before the member can be considered in good standing again.

Reinitiation fees start at $200 and increase each subsequent suspension within 3 years. The second suspension is $400 (if within 3 years of the first), third is $600 (if within 3 years of the second), and the fourth and beyond are $1,200 (if within 3 years of the previous suspension).

Dues are the responsibility of membership to remain in good-standing status. While there is no requirement for the Local to send dues reminder notices, courtesy notices are sent via email as well as regular reminders of the (4) months that dues are owed (January, April, July and October). We encourage members to consider setting up an auto-pay through our recurring system or set up personal reminders to help remember the (4) months dues are owed. [LINK]

No. It is your responsibility as a member to ensure that your dues are paid on time each quarter. The online system will notify you if there is an issue with your payment.

No. The front office staff do not have the authority to waive any dues or fees. The only entity with the power to waive dues or fees is the Local 399 Executive Board, who will consider member appeals on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. However, it’s important to share that the Executive Board rarely grants waivers for dues or fees. The circumstances must be extreme, extenuating, and unique to you. Length of union membership, previous good standing, and other historical factors are not considered. We encourage members to reach out to our team with any questions or concerns—our goal is to support you in staying active and engaged with Teamsters Local 399.

Requests may be submitted to the Executive Board via mail or email. Please submit email requests to office@ht399.org. The E-Board meets quarterly and considers cases at their quarterly meeting. Please be aware that the likelihood of your appeal being approved is very low.

Roster placement and Union status are two different entities. While a suspension status is not reported to Contract Services, in your contract is the obligation to remain in good-standing status with the Union to avoid any impact on your ability to work. If you have concerns, you need to reach out to them directly at 818-565-0550.

No. It is not reported to MPI. If you have concerns about your pension or health plan, you need to contact them at 818-769-0007.

The callboard tracks the status of everyone working. If you work while suspended, you will receive a notice that you have three days to pay the dues owed or your case will be escalated to your business agent. Contractually, working on withdrawal could affect your ability to remain employed.

Yes, you can go on a payment plan. Typical plans are either two or three months. Payment plans need to be initiated with a member of the front office.

Yes, you are considered active while on a payment plan and can work and be on the call board.

If you miss a payment, your plan is canceled,your account is automatically re-suspended, and you owe your entire balance in full before returning to active status.

We can credit you for months that you paid dues while on disability and did not work, based on your work history from MPI. You may receive either a refund check or credit in your account.

Send an email to office@ht399.org with a screenshot or photo showing your EDD claim effective date. This can be a screenshot of your EDD homepage with the claim effective date visible or a photo/ scan of a benefits letter. You may be able to get credit for months that you were on disability and did not work. We will also accept a doctor’s note.

Send an email to office@ht399.org requesting to go on withdrawal due to disability. If you did not work in the month that you are starting disability but have already paid, you may be able to get credit for that month if you submit the requisite paperwork. Email office@ht399.org with a screenshot or photo showing your EDD claim effective date. This can be a screenshot of your EDD homepage with the claim effective date visible or a photo/ scan of a benefits letter. You may be able to get credit for months that you were on disability and did not work. We will also accept a doctor’s note.

Email office@ht399.org with a screenshot or photo showing your EDD claim effective date. This can be a screenshot of your EDD homepage with the claim effective date visible or a photo/ scan of a benefits letter. We will also accept a doctor’s note.

Current practice: We will look at any claim effective date, although you may only receive credit for months worked within the past 12 months.

You need to work one day in a Local 399-covered position and then bring in or send us a copy of a paystub. Then, you become a permitted member and pay a monthly permit fee each month that you work. Once you accrue 30 days within one year, you are eligible to become a member and begin paying dues and initiation fees.

Initiation is $3,000 for most members. A small number of classifications have a different amount. Please call the front office to confirm your specific rate.

Current practice: We will accept a partial payment that at least covers dues for the months that the person is working.

Current practice: nothing… they just get the plan extended.

When you begin to work for a different Teamsters union, that union will reach out to Local 399 to request your transfer. Your new Teamsters union will let you know if there’s a fee to transfer. The fee would be paid to your new Teamsters union.

Once your new Teamsters union has requested your transfer, they will let you know what the cost will be. Depending on where you are currently paid through on your dues you may not have a transfer fee at all.

No, as long as you stay up to date with the CSATF safety training and documents requirements.

Most transfers can be processed within the same day a request has been received, but can take 2-3 business days.

Yes. When you’d like to return to Local 399 please contact the front office to initiate the transfer process.