INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 16, 2024 — 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, Local Division or State Legislative Board. This workshop will be held at the BLET National Division Headquarters in Independence, Ohio, during the week of February 26, 2024.
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 primarily designed for Secretary-Treasurers from BLET General Committees of Adjustments, larger Local Divisions, and State Legislative Boards that meet the LM-2 filing threshold.
Full-day classes will run from Tuesday, February 27 through Thursday, February 29. Hotel check-in/travel day is Monday, February 26 and hotel check-out/travel day is Friday, March 1. In addition to the in-person training, this class will also be available to include remote participants in a hybrid training setting during the classes on Tuesday, February 27 and Wednesday, February 28.
Leading the class will be Megan Mead, Director of the BLET’s Record and Compliance Department, and Walt Schmidt, Director of the BLET’s Online Services Department.
Secretary-Treasurers will review LM-2 reporting, membership reporting, filing requirements, bond requirements, computer applications, as well as other changes for reporting period 2023. 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.
A special segment of the 2024 workshop will focus on the records that must be maintained in conjunction with the annual 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. Finally, attendees will work with their financial information to better prepare, organize, and finalize their 2023 LM-2 report.
All participants (both in-person and remote) must register for the class at https://members.ble-t.org/EducationTraining/Register. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email that will contain more detailed hotel information and instructions for making your room reservation if attending in-person, or a Zoom meeting link if attending remotely. In-person attendees will stay at the Embassy Suites Hotel located at 5800 Rockside Woods Boulevard, in Independence, OH. If you have any problems securing your room in our reservation block, contact BLET Special Representative Matthew Kronyak at (201) 978-6436, or email kronyak@ble-t.org.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $98.00 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (www.narfoundation.org). The stipends will be paid directly to the General Committee, State Legislative Board, or Division.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit foundation formed by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail history, education, safety and technology in the United States and Canada. With initial funding and continued Board of Directors stewardship coming from the BR&CF, NARF has supported many non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada. The primary focus of these efforts has been in support of organized rail labor — giving back to all the men and women of the railroad community across North America.
For more information, please contact David Estes, National Secretary-Treasurer and Department Head of the BLET Education and Training Department, at (216) 241-2630 ext. 227, or email estes@ble-t.org.