During the last year, other than just changing your dues or initiation fees, has your union changed its constitution and/or bylaws?

If it has, you are required to file the amended constitution and bylaws along with your union’s annual financial report within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year in which the changes were made.  If your parent union must approve the changes, the new constitution and bylaws must be filed within 90 days of the end of the year in which they were approved. 

If your union files a paper version of Form LM-3 (less than $250,000 but $10,000 or more in annual receipts) or LM-4 (under $10,000 ), you are required to include a copy of the amended constitution and bylaws when you submit the required annual report.  Additionally, LM-3 filers must check item 21 as “Yes”; LM-4 filers must check item 9 “Yes” as well.

But if you’re an LM-3 or -4 filer and you’re using EFS (Electronic Forms System) to file, you can attach an electronic copy of your amended constitution and bylaws before you sign and transmit the completed form.  LM-2 filers already have to file electronically and can follow these same easy steps:

1.  While in EFS, at the top of the screen, click Add Attachments.
2. Select Constitution and/or Bylaws from the Type of Attachment dialog box.
3. Click Browse, and then locate the file on your computer which contains your amended constitution and/or bylaws.
4. Double-click the file name and your file attachment will show up.  Then continue completing, validating and signing your LM form for transmittal.

Whether you file manually or electronically, it’s your responsibility to provide OLMS with a copy of your amended constitution and/or bylaws.  For more information about this requirement, see our Compliance Tip,http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/CompTipLM1.pdf

For more information about EFS, please visit our web site athttp://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/efs/efsintro.htm.

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