1. Local Union Officer Responsibilities under the LMRDA
U.S. Department of Labor/ESA
Office of Labor-Management Standards

2. Los Angeles District Office
Jeffrey C. Gitomer
District Director
911 Wilshire Blvd., # 910
Los Angeles, CA
(213) /Fax (213)

3. OLMS’ Mission
Enforce the LMRDA
Financial integrity
Union democracy

4. OLMS Enforces the LMRDA. . . In Four Ways:
Reporting and Disclosure
Audits
Civil and Criminal Investigations
Liaison and Compliance Assistance

5. Financial Integrity LM reports (Title II)
Bonding investigations (Title V)
Audits (Titles II & V)
Record keeping
Reporting
Embezzlement

6. Union Democracy Investigate complaints Officer Elections (Title IV)
Trusteeships (Title III)
Supervise elections

7. Officer Responsibilities
Administrative
Financial
Reporting
Elections

8. Administrative Responsibilities
. Constitution & bylaws
. Member rights
. Collective bargaining agreements
. Publicizing LMRDA
. LMRDA Section 504
. Discipline

9. Constitution & Bylaws
Adopt and enforce constitution and bylaws

10. Protect Member Rights Right to nominate candidates
Right to vote for candidates
Attend and vote at meetings
Vote on dues, fees and assessments
Right to legal action
Disciplinary due process

11. Collective Bargaining Agreements
Maintain copies of all CBAs negotiated
Give copies to those covered by CBAs
Let members examine all CBAs

12. LMRDA
Inform members about the LMRDA

13. Enforce LMRDA Section 504
People convicted of certain crimes can’t be union officers or employees for 13 years!
Embezzlement, burglary & theft
Bribery & extortion
Murder, assault & rape
Arson & narcotics violations

14. Disciplinary Action to Members
Provide due process
Written notice of charges w/specificity
Opportunity to prepare a defense
Offer testimony & examine witnesses
Impartial tribunal/Fair hearing
Don’t discipline for exercising LMRDA rights!

15. Financial Responsibilities
. Fiduciary duties
. Surety bonding
. Loans
. Records

16. Fiduciary Duties Manage assets for benefit of union
Manage funds according to constitution
Avoid conflicts of interest
Account for profits (and losses)

17. Bonding Bond for everyone handling union funds
Minimum bond of 10% of all funds (liquid assets [cash, etc.] + gross receipts)
Bond range from $500 (threshold) to $500,000 (maximum required)
Starting cash + total receipts x 10% = Bond

18. Loans Loans > $2,000 to officers & employees are ILLEGAL!
Travel advances not accounted for with travel vouchers & vendor receipts, or not repaid within 30 days, constitute loans.

19. Records Unions must maintain all financial records
Records must support LM reports
Maintain financial records 5 years
Members have right to examine records

20. Reporting Responsibilities
. Initial organizational report
. Annual financial reports
. Officer & employee reports
. Employer & consultant reports
. Trusteeship reports

21. LM-1 Initial organizational report
File within 90 days of establishment
Signed by president and secretary
Union operations and constitutional provisions
File number is assigned by OLMS

22. LM-2/3/4 Annual financial reports LM-4 Receipts < $10,000
LM Receipts $200,000 + or trusteeships
Signed by president & treasurer
File within 90 days after end of fiscal year
Terminal reports within 30 days after end of period

23. LM-30 Union officer & employee reports
Payments from employer other than:
Regular salary
Regular benefits
Payments to officer, employee or their families
Conflicts of interest
Payments prohibited by 29 USC 186

24. Employers & Consultants
LM-10 filed by employers
Payments to union officers & employees
Payments to labor consultants
LM-20 & LM-21 filed by consultants
Discourage (or encourage) labor organizing
Direct communication with employees
Spying (collecting info) on employees

25. Trusteeships LM-15 initial & semi-annually
LM-15A for selection of delegates and officers
LM-16 termination

26. Officer Elections . Member rights . Candidate rights
. Election safeguards

27. Member Rights Secret ballot elections every 3/4/5 years
Reasonable opportunity to nominate
Issue nominations notice
Reasonable opportunity to vote
Mail election notices to members’ homes
No later than 15 days before the election

28. Candidate Rights Inspection of membership list
Distribution of campaign literature
Reasonable opportunity to campaign
No discriminatory treatment of candidates
No use of union or employer funds

29. Election Safeguards Follow constitution & bylaws
Current membership mailing list
Current candidate & voter eligibility lists
Protect ballots
No intimidation
Keep all election records 1 year

30. Questions Call Los Angeles District Office (213) 534-6405
OLMS web site: