U.S. Department of Labor

Employment Standards Administration
Office of Labor-Management Standards
New York District Office
201 Varick Street
Room 878
New York, NY 10014
(646)264-3190 Fax: (646)264-3191

 

March 20, 2009

 

Mr. Jonathan Ames, President
United Service Workers Union
Local 355
138-50 Queens Blvd
Briarwood, NY 11435

LM File Number 035-902
Case Number: |||||||| |||

Dear Mr. Ames:

This office has recently completed an audit of United Service Workers Union (USWU) Local 355 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). The CAP examined Local 355’s records for the organization’s fiscal year 2006, from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006. The CAP, which is limited in scope, disclosed the following information:

According to Local 355, the local is considered a “core” local of the USWU. As a “core” local, all dues and revenue from Local 355 go directly to the USWU. The USWU pays all bills on behalf of Local 355. Local 355 does not control any finances.

Local 355 files an LM-4 report (LM# 035-902). The USWU files an LM-2 report (LM# 529-203).

For the audit period of 2006:

According to a report provided by Local 355 titled “Dues and Initiation Fees Collected by USWU On Behalf of Local 355 Year Ending 9/30/2006”, the USWU collected approximately $6,200,000 in revenue on behalf of Local 355.

According to a report provided by Local 355 titled “Expenses Paid by USWU On Behalf of Local 355 Year Ending 9/30/2006”, the USWU disbursed approximately $71,000 on behalf of Local 355 for the purposes of meetings, arbitration expenses and lost time. According to the report, USWU incurred expenses for 19 arbitration cases of Local 355 members. According to Local 355, the USWU pays other expenses on behalf of the “core” locals but does not track those expenses by local.

According to Local 355, the local had approximately 10,500 members in 2006.

According to Local 355, the organization’s officers do not receive a salary from their position in Local 355. A chart provided by Local 355 titled “All Positions Held by USWU, Local 355, IUJAT Officers in Related Organizations”, the following Local 355 officers received a salary from their position(s) in organizations related to the USWU and/or International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT):

Jonathan Ames: $263,526
Edward Byrnes: $459,946
Peter DeVito Sr.: $454,550
Lori Ames: $302,662
Vincent Dippolito: $250,033

I want to extend my personal appreciation to Local 355 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,

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Supervisory Investigator

cc: Edward Byrne, Secretary Treasurer
Richard Greenspan, Attorney