Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Denver District Office
Suite 2435
1999 Broadway
Denver, CO 80202-5712
(720)264-3232 Fax:(720) 264-3230
Ms. Dorothy Winfield, Secretary-Treasurer
Communications Workers, AFL-CIO
Local Union 14705
360 +coma Street, Room 107
Denver, CO 80223
LM File Number: 032-203
Case Number:------
Dear Ms. Winfield:
This office has recently completed an audit of Communications Workers, AFL-CIO, Local Union 14705 under the compliance Audit Program (CAP) to determine your orga ization's compliance with the provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disc osure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). As discussed during the exit interview with you and CW Local 14705 President Lester Stevens on October 4,2007, the following problems wer 1 disclosed during the CAP. The matters listed below are not an exhaustive list of all pbssible problem areas since the audit conducted was limited in scope. The budit disclosed the following.
Recordkeeping Violations
Title II of the LMRDA establishes certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Sectipn 206 requires, among other things, that labor organizations maintain adequate recofds for at least five years by which each receipt and disbursement of funds, as well as ali account balances, can be verified, explained, and clarified. As a general rule, labor orgahizations must maintain all records used or received in the course of union busihess.
For disbursements, this includes not only original bills, invoices, receipts, vouchers, and applicable resolutions, but also documentation showing the nature of the union busihess 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 accobnts.
The audit of CWA Local 14705's 2006 records revealed the following recordkeeping violitions:
General Reimbursed Expenses
CWA Local 14705 did not retain adequate documentation for reimbursed expenses incu red by Local 14705 President Lester Stevens to support his attendance at CWA quar 1 erly officer's meetings and CWA District 7 conferences. The union failed to pro+de convention flyers or a letter showing the date, time, and place of the meetings. The pnion failed to maintain all expense receipts to show how it spent $8,248 for office expenses or $7,838 for other disbursements. The union provided no $3,720 in building rent for the audit period.
As previously noted above, labor organizations must retain original receipts, bills, and voumers for all disbursements. The president and treasurer (or corresponding prinqpal officers) of your union, who are required to sign your union's LM report, are responsible for properly maintaining union records.
Based on your assurance that Local 14705 will retain adequate documentation in the futude, 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 to file annual financial reports accurately disclosing their financial operations. The Labor Organization Annual Report (Form LM-3) filed by fiscal years ending September 30,2005 and September 30,2006, were deficient in several areas.
Cash Reconciliation
It apbears that the cash figures reported in Item 25 are not the cash figures according to the &ion's books after reconciliation to the bank statements. The instructions for Item 25 st4te that the union should obtain account balances from its books as reconciled to the bbances shown on bank statements. The union understated its annual dues receipts by $$8,394 for fiscal year ending September 30,2006, and the union's ending cash figure is udderstated by $5,639 for fiscal year ending September 30,2005.
Local 14705 must file amended Form LM-3 reports for fiscal years ending Sept mber 30,2005 and September 30,2006, to correct the deficient items discussed about. I advised you that the reporting forms and instructions are available on the website (www.olms.dol.gov). The amended Form LM-3 should be submitted to this office at the above address as soon as possible, but not later than November 16, Before filing, review the reports thoroughly to be sure they are complete, ate, and signed properly with original signatures.
Other Issues
Duplicate Receipts
Members of Local 14705 pay due directly to the union. The secretary-treasurer records journal, but union chapel chairmen who collect or immediately enter dues paid on dues records in accordance with Article VII, Sec. 10 of the CWA Local 14705 recommends that chapel chairmen or union officers use a duplicate the union issues original pre-numbered receipts to all members directly to the union and retains copies of those receipts. A is an effective internal control because it ensures that a record is not otherwise easily verifiable. If more than one duplicate should maintain a log to identify each book, the series and to whom each book is assigned.
I want to extend my personal appreciation to Communications Workers, AFL-CIO, 14705 for the cooperation and courtesy extended during this compliance recommend that you make sure this letter and the compliance provided to you are passed on to future officers. If we can provide please do not hesitate to call.
Investigatorcc: Mr. Lester Stevens, CWA Local 14705 President