Union Dues It's Your Money Isn't It?

Transparency measures undertaken by former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, updated the financial reporting forms that unions are required to file with the Labor Department and IRS.

Under Chao, the DOL required unions among other things, to itemize their expenditures and report how much they paid union employees.

Because of these reforms, rank-and-file members can see how their union dues are spent.

Financial transparency protects union members from corrupt officers.

Unfortunately, the leadership at New York District Council of Carpenters would rather keep us blindfolded and deny our fundamental right to information or voting on our contracts.

Union members clearly deserve to know how their dues are spent.

Less transparency in union finances has facilitated union corruption.

Clearly, Unity Team union officers, motivated by greed, conducted the affairs of the council like a self-serving out of control criminal enterprise, that was both detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the district council and its members.

With the arrest of Mike Forde and revelations at the UBC Hearings of:

• Corruption
• Drug use
• Prostitution (see page 505)
  
• Hiding illegal weapons and drugs on our property
• Employees removing hair from their bodies in order to avoid detection of drug use 
• Financial Mismanagement
• Cash Flow Mismanagement, costing $300 to $500 thousand per year in lost interest (see page 5)
  
• Trustees not adequately performing their duties
• Losing control over the management of employee spending 
• Employees with serious driving offense are provided union cars and expense reimbursements
  
• Flawed systems of accountability in place (see page 93)

There is widespread disgust, outrage and mistrust building among the rank and file, demanding more financial transparency, accountability and detailed information on how our dues money is spent.

Since becoming Supervisor, Frank Spencer has undertaken "several measures" in an attempt to correct the problems plaguing the district council. While we applaud Mr. Spencer's initiatives, observers say they fall short of the mark.

The biggest obstacle to reform, is these "measures" are being implemented by the same people who have failed us and led us to where we are today.

It not assuring that Spencer named former "Unity Team" partner, Pete Thomassen, as "assistant" nor the fact that most of Forde's enablers are still in positions of power and trustees to our benefit funds. This is a major source of mistrust and anger among the rank and file.

The illusion that Spencer has cleaned house is just that; an illusion.

Why did Spencer name Thomassen, assistant supervisor?

Why would Spencer do this?

Is union politics trumping what is in the best interest of the membership?

Unfortunately, these questions remain unanswered, since Spencer has refused to answer written questions, or provide a forum to answer questions directly.

In an effort to better educate our members on union finances and provide much needed transparency, Local157.blogspot.com is providing you with one click, free access to the latest IRS form 990, Department of Labor form LM-2 and 5500 Reports filed by the New York District Council of Carpenters. Under the law you have a right to this information.

What is a IRS Form 990?
Form 990 is an annual reporting return that certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. It provides information on the filing organization's mission, programs, and finances.

How to read IRS Form 990.
Form 990 Information

What is a Form 5500?
Annual Report Form 5500. This report is required to be submitted annually by many ERISA-covered plans. It contains various schedules with information on the financial condition and operation of the plan.
How to read Form 5500
Form 5500 Information

What is a Form LM-2?
Unions covered by the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act are required to submit annual financial statements to the US Department of Labor. The LM-2 Form will tell you how many members the union has, the salaries of officers and staff, and other useful information.

Form LM-2 Information
Look up LM-2

990 Reports filed for the District Council, click to view each year.

Date Received	Filing Type	Fiscal Year Ending	Trust Name	Plan Number		Total Liabilities	Total Receipts
Feb 09, 2009	990	2009	Labor Management	56-2410898
Feb 09, 2009	990	2008	Labor Management	56-2410898
Jan 11, 2008	990	2007	Labor Management	56-2410898
Feb 19, 2010	990	2009	District Council	13-5569960
Sep 24, 2008	990	2008	District Council	13-5569960
Feb 4, 2008	990	2007	District Council	13-5569960
Sep 27, 2008	990	2008	Carpenters Charity Fund	56-2389393
Feb 22, 2008	990	2007	Carpenters Charity Fund	56-2389393
Apr 22, 2009	990	2008	Carpenters Relief & Charity Fund	13-3490897
Apr 17, 2008	990	2007	Carpenters Relief & Charity Fund	13-3490897
Apr 17, 2008	990	2007	Carpenters Vacation Fund	13-6227443
Apr 10, 2007	990	2006	Carpenters Vacation Fund	13-6227443
Apr 17, 2007	990	2006	NYCDCC Apprenticeship, Journeyman	13-2583087
May 10, 2008	990	2007	NYCDCC Apprenticeship, Journeyman	13-2583087
May 10, 2009	900	2008	NYCDCC Apprenticeship, Journeyman	13-2583087
Apr 3, 2007	990	2006	Carpenter Welfare Fund	13-5615576
Apr 7, 2008	990	2007	Carpenter Welfare Fund	13-5615576
Apr 9, 2009	990	2008	Carpenter Welfare Fund	13-5615576
Oct 13, 2008	990	2008	Union Security Trust	13-5553175
Oct 10, 2007	990	2007	Union Security Trust	13-5553175

5500 Reports filed for the District Council, click to view each year.

Date Received	Filing Type	Fiscal Year Ending	Trust Name	Plan Number		Total Liabilities	Total Receipts
Apr 10, 2008	5500	2007	Carpenter Pension Fund	51-0174276
Apr 10, 2007	5500	2006	Carpenter Pension Fund	51-0174276
Apr 10, 2007	5500	2006	Carpenters Welfare Fund	13-5615576
Apr 10, 2008	5500	2007	Carpenters Welfare Fund	13-5615576
Apr 13, 2007	5500	2006	Retirement & Pension Plan NYCDCC Employees	51-0167964
Apr 11, 2008	5500	2007	Retirement & Pension Plan NYCDCC Employees	51-0167964
Oct 3, 2007	5500	2006	Union Security Trust Fund	13-5553175
Oct 13, 2008	5500	2007	Union Security Trust Fund	13-5553175
Oct 3, 2007	5500	2006	Retirement Plan of Trustees	13-1930084
Oct 13, 2008	5500	2007	Retirement Plan of Trustees	13-1930084
Apr 10, 2007	5500	2006	Carpenter Annuity Fund	51-0174279
Apr 10, 2008	5500	2007	Carpenter Annuity Fund	51-0174279
Apr 10, 2007	5500	2006	Carpenter Vacation Fund	13-6227443
Apr 10, 2008	5500	2007	Carpenter Vacation Fund	13-6227443

Below is all LM-2 Reports filed for the District Council, click to view each year.

	Date Received	Filing Type	Fiscal Year		Total Assets	Total Liabilities	Total Receipts	Total Disbursements	Total Membership
	Nov 22, 2011	LM-2	2011 Report		$68,269,387	$6,782	$31,244,836	$31,178,250	21,798
	Sep 29, 2010	LM-2	2010 Report		$62,443,926	$1,432,096	$32,276,584	$59,300,211	23,501
	Oct 06, 2009	LM-2	2009 Report		$58,193,112	$1,700,013	$53,049,510	$41,665,341	24,816
	Sep 24, 2008	LM-2	2008 Report		$47,586,471	$2,178,591	$58,028,935	$39,049,178	25,515
	Sep 27, 2007	LM-2	2007 Report		$32,679,947	$1,713,102	$45,518,392	$43,247,257	24,857
	Oct 05, 2006	LM-2	2006 Report		$23,028,874	$1,664,918	$44,130,236	$44,094,876	24,015
	Sep 30, 2005	LM-2	2005 Report		$23,138,518	$3,953,753	$39,691,330	$38,817,299	22,107
	Oct 04, 2004	LM-2	2004 Report		$22,887,757	$1,435,067	$37,928,272	$38,408,615	22,855
	Sep 29, 2003	LM-2	2003 Report		$22,122,672	$1,210,280	$32,328,877	$30,633,503	23,127
	Oct 10, 2002	LM-2	2002 Report		$22,985,856	$1,070,616	$32,961,853	$32,991,436	24,058
	Oct 09, 2001	LM-2	2001 Report		$20,877,299	$1,144,920	$34,880,406	$34,613,324	24,027
	Oct 03, 2000	LM-2	2000 Report		$14,746,914	$810,534	$17,671,440	$17,739,233	23,992