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U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Labor-Management Standards
Dallas District Office
A. Maceo Smith Fed. Bldg.
525 Griffin Street, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75202
(972) 850-2500 Fax: (972) 850-2501

August 12, 2011

Mr. Ron Rutherford, President
Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil
Central Division Tyler Area
310 CR 2258
Mineola, TX 75773

Dear Mr. Rutherford:

This office has recently completed an audit of Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area Local 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 and Treasurer Darrell Shumate on July 28, 2011, 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 Employees Federation of Exxon Mobile Central Division Tyler Area for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, was deficient in the following areas:
1. 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. Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area amended its constitution and bylaws exact date unknown, but did not file a copy with its LM report for that year. However, a copy of the constitution and bylaws was provided to OLMS during the audit. As a result, OLMS will take no further enforcement action regarding this issue

2. Disbursements to Officers

Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area incorrectly reported reimbursements to its officers totaling $5,685. It appears the union erroneously reported these payments in Item 54 Other Disbursements.

The union must report most direct disbursements to Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Area 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).

3. Professional Fees

Employees Federation of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area incorrectly reported professional fees totaling $2,200. It appears the union erroneously reported the disbursement in Item 54 Other Disbursements instead of Item 49 Professional Fees.
Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area provided OLMS an amended Form LM-3 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, correcting the above-cited deficiencies at the conclusion of the exit interview conducted July 28, 2011. As a result, OLMS will take no further enforcement action regarding this issue.

Other Violations

The audit disclosed the following other violation(s):

Inadequate Bonding

The audit revealed that Employees Federation of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area officers and employees were not bonded for the minimum amount required at the time of the audit. However, the union obtained adequate bonding coverage and provided evidence of this to OLMS during the audit. As a result, OLMS will take no further enforcement action regarding this issue.

Other Issues

Signing Blank Checks

During the audit, you advised that you signs blank checks. Your union’s policy requires that all checks be signed by any two of the four financial officers. The two signature requirement is an effective internal control of union funds. Its purpose is to attest to the authenticity of a completed document already signed. However, signing a blank check in advance does not attest to the authenticity of a completed check, and negates the purpose of the two signature requirement. OLMS recommends that Employees Federation of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area review these procedures to improve internal control of union funds.

I want to extend my personal appreciation to Employees Federation Of ExxonMobil Central Division Tyler Area Local 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. Darrell Shumate, Mr. John Chapa, Mr. Tim Jumper