Employment Standards Administration
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Washington District Office
800 North Capitol Street NW
Room 120
Washington, DC 20002-4244
(202)513-7300 Fax: (202)513-7301
June 20, 2008
Mr. Ronald Hinton, President
National Association of Letter Carriers
Branch 496
241 6 Chamberlayne Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23222-4206
LM File Number 083-869
Case Number: -
Dear Mr. Hinton:
This office has recently completed an audit of Letter Carriers Branch 496 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 Mac Robinson and you on June 18,2008, 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.
Record Keeping 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 Branch 496's 2006 records revealed the following recordkeeping violations:
1) General Reimbursed and Credit Card Expenses
Branch 496 did not retain adequate documentation for reimbursed expenses
incurred by almost all union officers and for credit card expenses. Receipts must
be maintained for all expenses. Credit card billing statements do not qualify as
adequate documentation. Receipts, vouchers, and invoices that identify the
union purpose for the purchase must also be maintained.
As previously noted above, labor organizations must retain original receipts,
bills, and vouchers for all disbursements. The president and treasurer of your
union, who are required to sign your union's LM report, are responsible for
properly maintaining union records.
2) Meal Expenses
Branch 496 records of meal expenses did not always include written explanations
of union business conducted or the names and titles of the persons incurring the
restaurant charges. Union records of meal expenses must include written
explanations of the union business conducted and the full names and titles of all
persons who incurred the restaurant charges. Also, the records retained must
identify the names of the restaurants where the officers or employees incurred
meal expenses.
3) Failure to Retain Records
Branch 496 failed to maintain records for some union receipts and expenses. The
union failed to maintain a few dues check off reports, a few credit card
statements, and an invoice for the purchase of calendars. All union records must
be maintained.
Labor organizations must retain all original documentation for all receipts and
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) Failure to Record Receipts
Branch 496 did not record in its receipts records the money received at
membership meetings from the 50/50 raffles, or the names and amount of money
collected from members for the purchase of calendars. Union receipts records
must include an adequate identification of all money the union receives. The
records should show the date and amount received, and the source of the money.
The union's records should also indicate the name of the member that won the
raffle.
5) Vacation Policy
As a full time officer, the union president receives both annual leave and sick
leave. During the course of the audit, OLMS discovered that Branch 496 has no
records regarding the date and number of hours of leave used, or the leave
balances. As I discussed during the exit interview, the union must maintain
records in support of annual leave and sick leave earned and/or used that
identify each date annual or sick leave was used, the number of hours
used/earned and the remaining balances.
Based on your assurance that Branch 496 will retain adequate documentation in the future, OLMS will take no further enforcement action at this time regarding the above violations.
Reporting Violations
The audit disclosed a violation of LMRDA Section 201 (b), which requires labor
organizations to file annual financial reports accurately disclosing their financial
condition and operations. The Labor Organization Annual Report, Form LM-3, filed by
Branch 496 for fiscal year ending 12/31/2006, was deficient in the following areas:
1) Disbursements to Officers
Branch 496 did not include some reimbursements to officers in the amounts
reported Item 24 (All Officers and Disbursements to Officers). It appears that the
expenses for the officers were erroneously reported under the column "Gross
Salary" on the LM-3 report for the audit year instead of in the column
"Allowances and Other Disbursements."
The union must report most direct disbursements to Branch 496 officers and
some indirect disbursements made on behalf of its officers in Item 24. A "direct
disbursement" to an officer is a payment made to an officer in the form of cash,
property, goods, services, or other things of value. See the instructions for Item
24 for a discussion of certain direct disbursements to officers that do not have to
be reported in Item 24. An "indirect disbursement" to an officer is a payment to
another party (including a credit card company) for cash, property, goods,
services, or other things of value received by or on behalf of an officer. However,
indirect disbursements for temporary lodging (such as a union check issued to a
hotel) or for transportation by a public carrier (such as an airline) for an officer
traveling on union business should be reported in Item 48 (Office and
Administrative Expense).
2) Failure to File Bylaws
The audit disclosed a violation of LMRDA Section 201(a), which requires that a
union submit a copy of its revised constitution and bylaws with its LM report
when it makes changes to its constitution or bylaws. Branch 496 amended its
constitution and bylaws in 2006, but did not file a copy with its LM report for
that year.
As agreed, Branch 496 will file a copy of its amended constitution and bylaws
with OLMS as soon as possible, but not later than June 30, 2008.
I am not requiring that Branch 496 file an amended LM report for 2006 to correct the
deficient items, but Branch 496 has agreed to properly report the deficient items on all
future reports it files with OLMS.
Other Violations
The audit disclosed the following other violation:
1) Inadequate Bonding
The audit revealed a violation of LMRDA Section 502 (Bonding), which requires
that union officers and employees be bonded for no less than 10 percent of the
total funds those individuals or their predecessors handled during the preceding
fiscal year.
Branch 496's Secretary-Treasurer and Financial Secretary are currently bonded
for $50,000. However, President Hinton is not on the Branch's bond. All officers
who handle union funds must be bonded. Branch 496 should obtain adequate
bonding coverage for all its officers immediately. Please provide proof of
bonding coverage to this office as soon as possible, but not later than June 30,
2008.
Other Issues
1) Signatures on Checks
During the audit, the union advised that its policy is for two signatures to be on
all union checks. The audit revealed that one check written by the union only
contained one signature. The countersignature requirement is an effective
internal control of union funds. I strongly recommend that Branch 496 make
sure that all future checks contain two signatures.
I want to extend my personal appreciation to Letter Carriers Branch 496 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: Mac Robinson, Treasurer