at my job, you are covered by the union whether you pay dues or not
Some countries are like that. There are pros and cons to it though. The unions are stronger when people bother joining.
Also, being covered by an agreement at your work is only part of what unions offer. They have other services for members, like getting your salary checked, legal support, salary insurance, various discounts for stuff, etc.
It might be tempting to save the membership fee, but don’t be a leech. Someone worked hard to get the benefits for everyone. Join the union.
i was a part of the union for several years, went to meetings and voted and everything. unfortunately i became disabled and the amount of medical bills etc became so overwhelming i had to cut everything i could. since i was still covered by the union, i had to make that choice for me, even tho it bothers me. I’m not a leech, just in an unfortunate financial position currently. $40 is a lot for some people, especially if they have mouths to feed :(