INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, December 2 — Early next year, the BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a workshop for all Secretary-Treasurers who file LM-2 reports for their General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), Division or State Legislative Board. This workshop will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from March 6-8, 2017.
Each year, labor organizations must file a financial report with the U.S. Department of Labor. The filing requirements are determined by the total annual receipts of the union, and the LM-2 is required for units with $250,000 or more in total annual receipts. The upcoming workshop is generally intended for Secretary-Treasurers from many BLET General Committees of Adjustment and larger Divisions along with some State Legislative Boards.
For all attendees the first session will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017. All sessions will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude around 5:00 p.m. The workshop will end on Wednesday, March 8, and checkout will be noon on Thursday March 9. The BLET room rate includes Sunday, March 5, and ends Wednesday, March 8, so you should arrange your travels to arrive on Sunday and depart on Thursday.
For those who attended last year’s workshop, much has changed in the past year and there will be several new segments included in the 2017 LM-2workshop. Also during this session, Secretary-Treasurers will review LM-2 reporting, membership reporting, filing requirements, bond requirements, computer applications, as well as changes for 2017. There will also be a review of methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports, as well as Federal tax returns. A representative from the Department of Labor will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice regarding the preparation of LM-2 reports.
Also included in the workshop will be a segment titled “Tips, Tricks and Traps.” It will feature examples of problem areas on the LM-2 to help filers avoid mistakes and clear up common misunderstandings. Instructors will guide attendees through the LM-2, item-by-item and schedule-by-schedule, in order to help them understand and avoid the pitfalls of the LM-2.
A special segment of the 2017 workshop will focus on the records that must be kept to comply with the LM-2 form, including itemization of certain expenses as well as estimates of time spent by officers and employees in five “functional activity” categories. Other segments will include an overview of the BLET’s UnionTrack reporting program and a QuickBooks refresher. Attendees will work with their actual information and will be working on their own LM-2 report for calendar year 2016.
Once you register for the class at www.ble-t.org/gcast you will receive a confirmation that will contain the hotel information you will need to make your reservation. Cut off for registration is February 8, 2017.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $91.00 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation. The stipends will be paid directly to the General Committee, State Legislative Board, or Division.