This week we cover proposed changes to the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Union Station, our weekly newsletter that keeps you abreast of the legislation, national trends, and public debate surrounding public-sector union policy.
Earlier this month, a generous donor offered to match our donations if we could raise $50,000. The support from readers like you has been amazing and we have already unlocked that match. All of the donations you have made to support Ballotpedia’s work have been doubled.
Better yet, the donor has increased the match to $100,000! All donations up to $100,000 will now be matched, resulting in $200,000 of support for election coverage, analysis, and emails like _Union Station_. Thank you so much for your support of Ballotpedia and for making our fundraiser such an enormous success already. If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time left for your donation to have double the impact! ([link removed])
NOTE: We will not be publishing an issue of Union Station on Nov. 6. We'll resume regular publication on Nov. 13.
** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROPOSES CHANGES TO UNION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------
On Oct. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a series of proposed changes ([link removed]) to reporting requirements for unions subject to the disclosure provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act ([link removed]) (LMRDA).
** BACKGROUND
------------------------------------------------------------
Enacted in 1959, LMRDA requires certain unions to file annual financial reports. These reports must include the following information ([link removed]) :
* The reporting union's assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of the fiscal year.
* All revenues and their sources.
* Salary and other compensation for any union officer or employee receiving $10,000 or more from the union in a reporting year.
* Direct and indirect loans made to union officers, employees, or members.
* Direct and indirect loans to businesses.
* Union membership figures.
LMRDA grants the secretary of labor the "authority to issue, amend, and rescind rules and regulations prescribing the form and publication of reports" required under the law. Since 2012, the labor secretary has delegated this authority to the director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards. The forms used for these reports are referred to as LM-2 forms.
Unions that represent public-sector workers exclusively are not subject to these requirements. Unions representing both private-sector and public-sector workers are required to file reports.
** PROPOSED CHANGES
------------------------------------------------------------
The revised LM-2 forms ([link removed]) would require unions to:
* Disclose whether an officer or employee receiving $10,000 or more from the union also received $10,000 or more from another union.
* Disclose the existence and, if applicable, amount of a union's strike fund.
* Report the date of the latest change to a union's bylaws.
* Report sales and purchases of investments and fixed assets as four distinct entries.
* Report spending for political activities and lobbying as two distinct entries.
* Provide more detailed information about membership (e.g., membership status, how many members are paying full dues, etc.).
The proposed changes do not directly affect the exemption for unions representing only public-sector workers.
** WHAT ARE THE REACTIONS, AND WHAT COMES NEXT?
------------------------------------------------------------
Edwin Hill, Jr., an international representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, opposed ([link removed]) the proposal: "I do not see the necessity to further burden local union offices with additional documentation regarding their financial responsibility to its members and in accordance with existing laws. … [The existing report form] suits the needs of interested and regulatory parties as it stands today."
Writing for the National Legal and Policy Center, Carl Horowitz supported ([link removed]) the proposed changes: "Labor leaders understandably oppose this. But the proposal rule change addresses real problems, which however frequently detected and punished, require adequate tools."
The proposal was published in the Federal Register ([link removed]) on Oct. 13. The comment period for this proposed rule change is open through Dec. 14. For more information about the next steps in the rulemaking process, click here ([link removed]) .
------------------------------------------------------------
** WHAT WE ARE READING
------------------------------------------------------------
* Iowa City Press-Citizen, "University of Iowa, Iowa City, Johnson County public employees vote again to maintain their unions," Oct. 28, 2020 ([link removed])
* The Wall Street Journal, "New York City’s Largest Municipal Union, Mayor de Blasio Reach Deal to Avert Layoffs," Oct. 28, 2020 ([link removed])
* The Center Square, "Seven California home health care providers appeal over SEIU taking Medicaid payments from their paychecks," Oct. 26, 2020 ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
** THE BIG PICTURE
------------------------------------------------------------
** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY STATE_
------------------------------------------------------------
We are currently tracking 102 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here ([link removed]) for a complete list of all the bills we're tracking.
[link removed]
** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY CURRENT LEGISLATIVE STATUS_
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY PARTISAN STATUS OF SPONSOR(S)_
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
------------------------------------------------------------
** RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------
No legislative actions have been taken on relevant bills since our last issue.
------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for reading! Let us know what you think! Reply to this email with any feedback or recommendations. We'll be back in your inboxes on November 13th.
BALLOTPEDIA DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR READERS.
The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns.
Click here to support our work ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
============================================================
** Follow on Twitter (#)
** Friend on Facebook (#)
** Forward to Friend ([link removed])
_Copyright © 2020, All rights reserved._
OUR MAILING ADDRESS IS:
Ballotpedia
8383 Greenway Blvd
Suite 600
Middleton, WI 53562
** unsubscribe from all emails [link removed]
** update subscription preferences [link removed]
** [link removed]
