Printer-Friendly Version
|
Quick Links |
|
|
Links to ESA compliance resources:
Links to other Departmental compliance resources:
|
|
|
|
The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) Web site provides resources to help
officers and members of small labor organizations understand and comply with requirements in the
Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) concerning union reporting, elections of officers,
financial safeguards, recordkeeping, and other aspects of union operations. Unions composed of Federal
government employees are subject to similar requirements under the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA).
- Labor Organization Information Report, Form LM-1
When unions, including local unions, are established, the LMRDA and the CSRA regulations require them to
adopt a constitution and bylaws and file two copies with OLMS, along with a Labor Organization Information
Report, Form LM-1, providing certain information about the structure, practices, and procedures of the
union.
- Labor Organization Annual Reports, Form LM-4 and Form LM-3
Every labor organization subject to the LMRDA or the CSRA must file a financial report each year with
OLMS. Labor organizations with total annual receipts of less than $10,000 may file Form LM-4. Labor
organizations with $10,000 or more in annual receipts but less than $250,000 must file Form LM-3. If a
labor organization's total annual receipts are more than these limits it must file Form LM-2.
- LMRDA Recordkeeping Requirements for Unions
Unions must maintain records concerning their financial operations and elections of officers as well
as related records that clarify or verify any report filed with OLMS. The president and treasurer, or the
corresponding principal officers, must ensure that unions maintain adequate records.
-
This fact sheet provides guidance on complying with the recordkeeping requirements of the LMRDA (PDF)
- Spanish fact sheet (PDF)
- Internal Financial Controls
It is important for labor organizations to establish internal financial controls, such as maintaining
receipts and disbursement journals or similar records, requiring that all checks drawn on the union's
bank account have two signatures, and conducting regular audits. Internal financial controls are
necessary to accurately account for union funds and complete required financial reports.
- Conducting Audits in Small Unions — A Guide for Trustees
Trustees play a key role in making sure that a union's funds and other assets are properly accounted
for and used solely for the benefit of the union and its members. Few tasks are more critical to the
well-being of any organization.
- This Guide features a 10-step audit designed to help Trustees from small
unions carry out their duties.(PDF)
- Bonding Requirements
The LMRDA requires that union officers and employees who handle union funds be bonded to guarantee
repayment for financial loss caused by fraudulent or dishonest actions by the bonded individuals. The
officers and employees must be bonded for 10% of the amount of the funds they handled in the previous
fiscal year. The only exception to the bonding requirement is unions whose property and annual financial
receipts do not exceed $5,000.
- This pamphlet provides information about the bonding requirements of
the LMRDA and CSRA.
- Conducting Local Union Officer Elections — A Guide for Election Officials
Local unions must conduct elections every three years by secret ballot. The first step in getting
ready to conduct an election is to determine your specific responsibilities as an election official.
- This Guide provides step-by-step instructions on conducting local union elections, including sample
election notices, ballots, polling place diagrams, and other guidance. (PDF)
- The Guide also includes a helpful checklist.
- LMRDA Compliance — A Guide for New Union Officers
Union officers are entrusted with many important duties and responsibilities in protecting the
interests of union members. These obligations include filing financial reports and making them available
to union members, maintaining records, managing money and property, and conducting fair elections.
-
This Guide is designed for first-time officers and includes general information regarding LMRDA
requirements that apply to unions and union officers. (PDF)
- Fact sheet in Spanish
(PDF)
- LMRDA
The LMRDA establishes a bill of rights for union members; reporting requirements for unions, union
officers, and union employees; standards for the election of union officers; and safeguards for
protecting union funds and assets.
- Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)
The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) of the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment
Standards Administration administers and enforces most provisions of the LMRDA. The LMRDA was
enacted to ensure basic standards of democracy and fiscal responsibility in private sector labor
organizations.
-
This fact sheet gives an overview of the mission and activities of OLMS (PDF)
- Union Member Rights and Officer Responsibilities Under the LMRDA
The LMRDA guarantees certain rights to union members and imposes certain responsibilities on union
officers.
- This fact sheet discusses the rights of union members and the responsibilities of union
officers under the LMRDA, and the manner in which those rights and responsibilities are enforced (PDF)
- Fact sheet in Spanish
(PDF)
- Local OLMS Offices
-
For additional information and assistance, contact the OLMS field office closest to you
- Toll-Free Help Line
-
For general information or for a referral to the appropriate DOL office, call the Department of Labor
Help Line at 1 (866) 487-2365.
- OLMS Mailing List Subscription Page
-
If you would like to receive via email periodic updates from OLMS, including information about the
revised Form LM-2 and the new Form T-1, enforcement results, and compliance assistance programs, you may
subscribe to the OLMS Mailing List.
Do you have comments or suggestions about the material offered here? Please take the DOL Customer
Survey (via the link at the bottom of this page), or email OLMS directly at olms-public@dol.gov with any comments, suggestions, or
concerns.
Last Updated: 04/18/07
| |
|