Definition

1. Verb:
   • To formally agree to have a regular amount of money deducted from one's wages, typically for a specific purpose such as a trade union's political fund: The action of giving written consent for a portion of one's earnings to be paid to an organization, like a union, for its political activities.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • Employees were asked to contract in if they wished to contribute to the union's campaign fund.
  • The new legislation requires workers to actively contract in to the political levy, rather than being enrolled automatically.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "contract in" is often used in legal and industrial relations contexts, specifically concerning the funding of political activities by trade unions. It implies an active, opt-in choice, as opposed to a default or automatic deduction.

Variants and Related Words

• Contract (verb): To enter into a formal and legally binding agreement.
• Opt in (phrasal verb): To choose to participate in a system or arrangement. This is a close synonym in general contexts, though "contract in" is more specific to formal financial agreements.

Synonyms

• Formally agree to pay
• Subscribe to (in the context of a fund)
• Enroll in (specifically for the levy)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Contract out: The opposite action; to formally choose to participate in a scheme or payment, often by giving written notice.
  • He decided to contract out of the political fund while remaining a union member.

Notes on Meaning

• The meaning of "contract in" is highly specific. It does not refer to the general act of signing any contract. Its primary use is in the context of trade union members authorizing deductions from their pay for a political fund, a process often governed by specific laws (e.g., in UK labour law).

Verb

1. consent in writing to pay money to a trade union for political use