For starters mate, if you had to pay union fees, you would definitely of had to sign your signature on some paperwork. When I started working for my current company, I was given a detailed explanation of the union before being asked to sign paperwork.
If I was in your position I would ask to see all paperwork relating to my employment, and if there was none relating to the union and I did not receive a satisfactory explanation I would seek legal advice.
Here in Ireland I would phone the "Free Legal Advice Centre", your quoting dollars so your probably stateside, there should be a similar organisation, do a Google.
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