U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Philadelphia District Office
170 S. independence Mall West
Room 760
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215)861-4818 Fax: (215)861-4819
August 8,2007
Mr. John Stark, Treasurer
American Postal Workers AFL-CIO
Local 95
226 Manor Avenue
Millersville, PA 17551-1126
LM File Number 092-766
Dear Mr. Stark:
This office has recently completed an audit of APWU Local 95 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 President Michael Stephenson and yourself on July 30,2007, 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 Violation
Title I1 of the LMRDA establishes certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Section 206 requires, among other things, that adequate records be maintained for at least 5 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 the retention of orignal 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 Local 95's records revealed the following recordkeeping violation:
General Reimburse Expenses
Local 95 did not retain adeauate documentation reimbursed exvenses incurred bv I I J - totaling at least $2,163.88. Meeting reimbursements were paid without a detailed explanation for the payment on submitted vouchers. None of the receipts submitted bi- ha; a detailed explanation as required. Based on your assurance that Local 95 will retain adequate documentation in the future, OLMS will take no further enforcement action at this time regarding the above violation.
Reporting Violation
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. Local 95 amended its constitution and bylaws October 2004, but did not file a copy with its LM 3 report for that year which was filed in March of 2005.
Local 95 provided a current copy of its constitution and bylaws during the compliance audit.
I want to extend my personal appreciation to APWU Local 95 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, Investigator cc: Michael Stephenson, President P.O. Box 4051 Lancaster, PA 17604