U.S. Department of Labor
Employment Standards Administration
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Milwaukee District Office
310 West Wisconsin Avenue
Room 1160
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414)297-1501 Fax: (414)297-1685
December 4, 2008
Mr. Glenn Hutchinson, President
Locomotive Engineers, IBT Division 174
4608 Nicolet Drive
Stevens Point, WI 54481
LM File Number: 540-807
Case Number: -
Dear Mr. Hutchinson:
This office has recently completed an audit of Locomotive Engineers, IBT Division 174
under the Compliance Audit Program (CAP) to determine your organization's
compliance with the provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure
Act of 1959 (LMRDA). As discussed during the exit interview with Treasurer Ken
Moscinski and Michael Corrigan on November 20,2008, the following problems were
disclosed during the CAP. The matters listed below are not an exhaustive list of all
possible problem areas since the audit conducted was limited in scope.
Recordkeeping Violations
Title II of the LMRDA establishes certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Section 206 requires, among other things, that labor organizations maintain adequate records for at least five years by which each receipt and disbursement of funds, as well as all account balances, can be verified, explained, and clarified. As a general rule, labor organizations must maintain all records used or received in the course of union business.
For disbursements, this includes not only original bills, invoices, receipts, vouchers, and
applicable resolutions, but also documentation showing the nature of the union
business requiring the disbursement, the goods or services received, and the identity of
the recipient(s) of the goods or services. In most instances, this documentation
requirement can be satisfied with a sufficiently descriptive expense receipt or invoice. If
an expense receipt is not sufficiently descriptive, a union officer or employee should
write a note on it providing the additional information. For money it receives, the labor
organization must keep at least one record showing the date, amount, purpose, and
source of that money. The labor organization must also retain bank records for all
accounts.
The audit of Division 174's 2007 records revealed the following recordkeeping violations:
1. Receipt Dates not Recorded
Entries in Division 174's check register reflect the date the union deposited money,
but not the date money was received. The audit revealed that Division 174 records
its receipts in a checkbook ledger that identifies the names of those who remitted
money to the union. However, the ledger identifies the deposit date, rather than
the date the money was received. For example, on July 15,2007, there is a single
for a de osit of $1,300 includes $500 from m
$500 from (and and $300 from
the opening interview, Mr. Moscinski stated that he
received these checks on three separate dates but deposited them on the same day.
Union receipts records must show the date of receipt. The date of receipt is
required to verify, explain, or clarify amounts required to be reported in Statement
B (Receipts and Disbursements) of the LM-3. The LM-3 instructions for Statement
B state that the labor organization must record receipts when it actually receives
money and disbursements when it actually pays out money. Failure to record the
date money was received could result in the union reporting some receipts for a
different year than when it actually received them.
2. Bank Records
Division 174 failed to retain the May 2007 bank records for the union's checking
account, including the monthly statement, deposit transaction tickets provided by
the bank, and cancelled checks. For purposes of completing the audit, a copy of
the bank statement was obtained from Anchor Bank.
All original bank records must be maintained.
3. General Expenses and Payments to Officers
During the audit year, supporting documentation was not maintained to explain
the pur ose of several disbursements, including: check # to CIFS for $55;
check # to Sally Lunt for $40; check # to UTU Local 582 for $525; and
check # h to Staples for $83.46.
The audit also revealed that Division 174 failed to retain sufficient documentation
for several payments made to union officers for reimbursed expenses. These
payments include:
a) Cell Phone Bills: Mr. Moscinski received more than $900 in payments from
Division 174 for the reimbursement of a portion of his personal cellular phone
bill. The only documentation that was maintained for these expenses was the
monthly summary page of each cell phone bill. Additionally, check # to
Vice Local ChairmanJon Schommer included an expense payment of $146 for
personal cell phone charges; however no documentation was retained in the
union's records to support this expense.
If Division 174 directly pays the personal cell phone bills of union personnel
or reimburses union personnel for any portion of their cell phone expenses,
the union must retain the original phone bills and additional information
clearly identifying the charges paid by the union.
b) Mileage Payments: You and Mr. Corrigan incurred over $500 in mileage
expenses during the audit year. The documentation that was retained by the
division for those payments was insufficient because the records failed to
identify the number of miles driven for each trip, the rate at which the
mileage was paid, and the specific purpose of the union business being
conducted.
The union must maintain records which identify the dates of travel, locations
traveled to and from, and number of miles driven. The record must also
show the business purpose of each use of a personal vehicle for business
travel by an officer or employee who was reimbursed for mileage expenses.
c) Supply expenses: Check # to Mr. Schommer included payment of
$143.55 for reimbursed supply expenses. The voucher submitted by Mr.
Schommer identified the expenses as ink cartridges, paper, postage, and
computer time; however there were no receipts or other documentation in the
records to support this payment.
As previously noted above, labor organizations must retain original receipts, bills,
and vouchers for all disbursements. The president and treasurer (or
corresponding principal officers) of your union, who are required to sign your
union's LM report, are responsible for properly maintaining union records.
4. Lost Wages
Division 174 did not retain adequate documentation for lost wage reimbursement
payments to Mr. Corrigan, Mr. Schommer, and Mr. Moscinski totaling at least
$1,400. The audit found that Division 174's lost wage vouchers did not identify the
specific dates the lost wages were incurred nor did they include an adequate
description of the purpose of the lost wages.
The union must maintain records in support of lost wage claims that identify each
date lost wages were incurred, the number of hours lost on each date, the
applicable rate of pay, and a description of the union business conducted.
Based on the assurance that Division 174 will retain adequate documentation in the
future, OLMS will take no further enforcement action at this time regarding the above
violations.
Other Issues
1. Signing Blank Checks
During the audit, Mr. Moscinski advised that you occasionally sign blank checks.
The two signature requirement is an effective internal control of union funds. Its
purpose is to attest to the authenticity of a completed document already signed.
However, signing a blank check in advance does not attest to the authenticity of a
completed check, and negates the purpose of the two signature requirement.
OLMS recommends that Division 174 review these procedures to improve internal
control of union funds.
2. Expense Policy
As I discussed during the exit interview with Mr. Moscinski and Mr. Corrigan, the
audit revealed that Division 174 does not have a clear policy regarding the types of
expenses personnel may claim for reimbursement, including home phone bills and
personal cell phone bills. OLMS recommends that unions adopt written guidelines
concerning such matters.
I want to extend my personal appreciation to Locomotive Engineers, IBT Division 174 for the cooperation and courtesy extended during this compliance audit. I strongly recommend that you make sure this letter and the compliance assistance materials provided to you are passed on to future officers. If we can provide any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
cc: Ken Moscinski, Treasurer
Michael Corrigan, Local Chairman
Kevin Irnmormino, Vice President