During the past three years, the Office of Labor-Management Standards has worked closely with international unions on many initiatives, including improving on-time filing of annual financial reports and increasing bonding compliance by affiliates.  Most recently, we’ve worked closely with internationals to improve utilization of our electronic filing system, EFS.  Significant progress has been made on these initiatives and now it is time to take on what we call “chronic delinquency”. 

We define “chronic delinquency” as a local union who has not filed their required annual LM reports on time for three or more consecutive years.  In other words, these are not unions who occasionally file late; these are unions who repeatedly file late, year after year. 

The timely availability of financial information contained in the annual financial report required by law is also very important for union members in order to make informed decisions in union governance.  That is why OLMS has compiled a list of chronically-delinquent filers and sent them to the parent internationals. We’re asking for their help in addressing this issue, and so far, the response has been very positive.

Besides those “chronically delinquent” unions, these lists also include affiliated local unions who have been late filers for the last two consecutive years.  Our goal is to keep this group from becoming chronically delinquent.   OLMS district offices are receiving these same lists and over the course of the year, they’ll be reaching out to these locals in their area.

If you are one of these chronically-delinquent unions, we urge you to file on time this year—and every year from now on.  Not only will you be hearing from us if you do not, but in all likelihood, you’ll be hearing from your international as well.  And for those of you who file LM-3 and -4 forms, this might be a good time to start filing electronically.

John Lund is the Director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.