U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Nashville District Office
233 Cumberland Bend Drive, Suite 110
Nashville, TN 37228
(615) 736-5906 Fax: (615) 736-7148

 

August 6, 2010

 

Mr. Stephen Ruble, Treasurer
Postal Workers, American, AFL-CIO
Local 263
1124 N. Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37917 Case Number: ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LM Number: 505897

Mr. Ruble,

This office has recently completed an audit of Postal Workers, American, AFL-CIO Local 263 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 you on August 2, 2010, 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.

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 Local 263 for fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, was deficient in that:

Disbursements to Officers

Local 263 did not include some reimbursements to officers totaling at least $500 in the amounts reported Item 24 (All Officers and Disbursements to Officers). It appears the union erroneously reported these payments in Item 48. The union must report all reimbursements issued directly to the officer under column E of Item 24 regardless of whether it was an office administrative expense.

The union must report most direct disbursements to Local 263 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).

I am not requiring that Local 263 file an amended LM report for 2009 to correct the deficient items, but Local 263 has agreed to properly report the deficient items on all future reports it files with OLMS.

I want to extend my personal appreciation to Postal Workers, American, AFL-CIO Local 263 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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Investigator

cc: Mr. Michael Williams, President