Some regard it as a sort of initiation, like that into the Odd Fellows, which renders one liable to his regular dues thereafter.

As of October, Moscow owed $46 million in regular dues and $173 million for peacekeeping.

The Soviet Union, which was once a major debtor, now owes the United Nations only $2.6 million in regular dues.

He added that a reduction to 22 percent in regular dues by the General Assembly, which handles financial decisions, is an absolute requirement.

Those assessments are separate from regular dues.

Instead, members in that category will be expected to pay a quarter of the regular dues this year and then 50 percent after that.

The United States owes $268 million for peacekeeping and $518 million in regular dues.

Under this program, the United States paid off $46 million in back regular dues last year and $40 million more this year.

The Board found that the union itself regarded the levy as a "temporary assessment," clearly distinct from its "regular dues."

Although the transit workers are required to pay dues to Local 100 under state law, in practice it is almost impossible to collect regular dues without payroll deductions.