ATU Local 1001 IRS/DOL Fraudulent Filing Alert

Can you believe that it's June 18th already? Yup, getting closer to the July date where I can quit messing around with Amalgamated Transit Union International and the boys over at the local in Westminster. I suppose it's time to take the gloves off and make a statement:

The officers of ATU Local 1001 have filed fraudulent documents with either the IRS, DOL or both!

I am well aware of the libel laws and would never make that statement without proof. Private employer labor unions are required to file a yearly Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) disclosure form with Department of Labor and as a non-profit, they must also file a yearly form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service. A lot of the same information is required by both agencies so common sense would tell you the figures and other information would match. No one ever claimed they were real bright over at the hall:

ATU Local 1001 2007 LM-2

ATU Local 1001 2007 form 990

Once again, I suggest the "I'm Stupid & Incompetent Defense". Even I'd be smart enough to make sure the forms matched.

P.S. ROFLMAO

P.P.S. If I ever offend anyone to the point where they feel the need to sue, I think libel is sort of "ho-hum". How about tortious interference or intentional interference with contractual relations?

Animation courtesy of the AnimationLibrary

The SEIU Daddy Warbucks International Bank Of Members Money

SEIU - It Boggles My Simple Mind - Part 1

According to the Department of Labor, the Service Employees International Union "represented" 1,807,635 members at the end of 2008, employees working at some of the hardest and poorest paying jobs in the U.S. It would seem that many of these members are relative newcomers to the country and perhaps not well versed in "union ways.

Looking at their 2008 LM-2, SEIU International reports that the governing body had receipts of $334,683,821, including $224,328,224 in "tribute" (the per capita tax each member pays their local) and disbursed $325,112,205. WOW - I seem to recall from the days of my misspent youth, someone saying "a million here, a million there  (later changed to billion) - pretty soon you're talking real money." I'd opine that 1/3 of a billion dollars is REAL MONEY to the 18+ million union members paying the bills.

SEIU seems to be doing O.K.,  lots of cash coming in and a surplus of over 9 million dollars in 2008. Why then, did the International borrow $25 million bringing their total loan balance with Bank of America and Amalgamated Bank to $102,717,660 at the end of 2008?

I don't soar in the lofty skies of high finance and I admit that the paltry sums pale in comparison with a trillion (give or take a few billion) in bailout money, but make no mistake, the janitor who cleans your office at night and the aide changing bedpans in a nursing home are footing the bill!

I am appalled and disgusted when I read the headlines that SEIU is riddled with corrupt LU's and that so-and-so, another SEIU labor boss, is being investigated or indicted.  The questions that must be asked: "How long will SEIU allow business as usual" and "does anyone actually care?" Perhaps the lack of fiduciary responsibility actually starts at the top. What can we find out by looking at the 2008 SEIU International LM-2?

Click on the pie chart to enlarge it. 2008 SEIU International Receipts and Disbursements.Complete 2008 SEIU International LM-2.

Click on the pie chart to enlarge it. 2008 SEIU International Receipts and Disbursements.Complete 2008 SEIU International LM-2.

Some of the numbers seems a little odd to me but I leave it to the members and other interested parties to look at the LM-2 in detail. One still must ask why SEIU International, with the cash flow they seem to have, would have to borrow another $25 million to get through 2008. Perhaps part of the explanation lies in the 23 outstanding unsecured "financial assistance" loans made to various SEIU LU's, state councils and other affiliated organizations. $23,094,303 in outstanding loans at the end of 2008 and some of the terms (no or minimal payments for the entire year?) are cause for wonder. Is SEIU running the Daddy Warbucks International Bank of Members Money?

The 2008 SEIU International Loans Receivable is very confusing! I always thought 1 + 1 = 2 and applied that simple formula to accounting. I don't understand:

List below loans to officers, employees, or members which at any time during the reporting period exceeded $250 and list all loans to business enterprises regarless of amount.  (A)	Loans  Outstanding at  Start of Period  (B)	Loans Made  During Period  (C)	Cash  (D)(1)	Other Than Cash  (D)(2)	Loans  Outstanding at  End of Period  (E)

Total of all lines	$12,719,134	$3,075,000	$2,462,280	$0	$23,094,303

Many of the other entries in Loans Receivable are just as confusing. A few million here, a few million there - who cares? It's only member money and just not important.

A plea to the Obama Administration: Please Do Not Cut The Office of Labor-Management Standards Budget!

NEXT: SEIU - It Boggles My Simple Mind - Part 2

A look at the SEIU Accounts Receiving Aging Schedule ($1,025,729 over 180 days past due), who owes the money (the members of course) and who receives the Daddy Warbucks Bank "financial assistance" loans.

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ATU Local 1576 Lynnwood Washington

If I were a member I'd ask! (LM-2 on-line)

I know! Let the  743 members of ATU Local 1576 worry about how their money is spent. However, sometimes something jumps out and I have to ask.

I assume (silly me) that President, VP and Financial Secretary/Treasurer of ATU Local 1576 in Lynnwood, Washington, are part-time positions since three officers obvisouly can't live on a combined salary of $18,216 per year. Local 1576 is  a relatively small LU with revenues of $561,584 in 2008 and 743 members at the end of the year.

I have to admit that the $168,828 in "Disbursements For Official Business" confuses the hell out of me.

TIP: Convert a Union LM-2 to PDF for Portability

It seems like a lifetime since I first talked to a staff attorney at National Right to Work and he suggested I visit the DOL website and take a look at my unions LM-2/LM-3. In fact, it's only been a couple of months but it seems longer.

Union finance is a fascinating world and I've only begun to scratch the surface. I'll admit to a lack of knowledge regarding union administration but I have a basic understanding of normal accounting procedures and some of the figures on the LM-2's/LM-3's I've looked at seemingly would be more at home in "Alice In Wonderland" rather than a federal disclosure form.

Since I can see problems, why doesn't DOL? The answer is they do but much like the IRS, they don't have the staff to examine every document they receive. Local Union disclosure is only a small part of their regulatory responsibility. I invite everyone to visit the Department of Labor - Office of Labor-Management Standards and view the 2008 Annual Report to get an idea of what these civil servants actually do. Seems like a pretty big job.

There are two ways a union seems to come under scrutiny; the OLMS program, much like the IRS random audit, called the Compliance Audit Program (CAP) and through outside request for Compliance Assistance. Folks can judge for themselves how effective DOL is. I'd like to note that Compliance Assistance is more than just looking for evil deeds, it provides assistance to employers, unions and the general public regarding the current laws and how to comply.

I digress.

When I was getting started, I noticed that LM-3's (small unions) were filed in Portable Document File (PDF -.pdf file) format and I could view/save a copy in my browser or an Adobe (tm) product. LM-2's (larger unions) are stored in some sort of database and the only feasible options were to view or print the file. 

I wanted to save a copy that I could later print, post or email so I turned to the Internet and in just a few minutes had a simple solution to do exactly what I wanted. People much smarter than me had long ago solved the problem (not necessarily for LM-2's :-) and I'd like to pass the solution on to anyone who has a desire to have their own LM-2 in PDF format.

Download and install the free Adobe Reader (tm) if you don't already have an Adobe product. If you never intend to open a PDF file outside your browser, this step is not necessary because all browsers I'm aware of either have the native capability to open PDF files or a plug-in that you'll be prompted to install.
 

Download and install the free CutePDF Writer from CutePDF(tm). Don't let the name fool you, this is a great little program that will install a PDF "printer" on your system and all you need to do is select it to "print" a PDF file instead of hardcopy.

Go to the DOL on-line disclosure room. Select your union from the drop-down box labeled "Union Name" and enter your local number in the box labeled "Designation Number". Click the "Submit" button (note: there are many other queries but this will return any available information). If your local is required to file and has done so, your query will return a page similar to this:
          

         File Number       Fiscal Year         Affiliation/Organization Name 
         543-755                          2007                               TRANSIT UNION AFL-CIO LOCAL
                                                      Report                          UNION 1001

You can display a number of items (experiment!) but just to look at the 2007 report click on the "2007 Report" field.

Once the report has been displayed, click on the  Printable View  link in the upper right of the page. Print the page from your browser toolbar or keyboard ([ctl]+P in Windows). Select "CutePDF Writer" when the printer dialog box appears (note: I haven't used a MAC in years so I can only guareentee this applies to Windows)

Click Print

Pick a file name and you're done. You can click on the Dawg to test it.

Feel free to email this post to anyone you feel needs to see it. You can click on the email icon at the end of the post to bring up mail and attach the post. Email me with any questions or problems.