I only work 15h/w due to HS, paying $8.10/week AND $85 in initiation is bull**** as the guy from the union pretty much forced us to join (He told us we could get fired on the spot and only mentioned that there was an initiation fee, never said anything about $8.10 a week)
it's a ton of my paycheck when i already work so little and I couldn't give two ****s if they fired me as it's a summer job anyways.
I'm very anti-union myself, but you can decide for yourself to join in most states. The union makes you sign a contract outlining the terms, initiation fee, dues, and clauses regarding leaving the union. So if you signed the contract, nothing should come as a surprise regarding the dues. If you want to leave, tell your steward and they will give you instructions of what to do. In some corrupt states like California, you *have* to be a union member, so look up your state's laws as well.