To my union brothers and sisters,

I am happy to report that the union’s money is now being tracked using QuickBooks, the same business accounting software that’s used by our national office and some of its more progressive locals.

Carrie Antosz, an accountant with Bond Beebe, trained Local 308 Treasurer Tony Branco and Barbara Kane, our office manager/bookkeeper, on how to establish and maintain a general ledger using QuickBooks. The general ledger is a record of all the financial accounts of a business.

Since the training took place right outside my office, I couldn’t help but hear how much detail goes into accounting: Antosz entered a deposit in QuickBooks for $33,785.  That was a regular dues check that the local gets from the national every two weeks.

But instead of just recording the money in one lump sum, Antosz broke down the deposit to include how much was from regular members and how much was from associate members.  She also subtracted the per capita tax and $5,000, an installment payment for the local’s loan with the national organization.

She had Tony and Barb do the same thing with each business expense voucher.  Every receipt was examined and placed in its appropriate category.

The good thing – and bad thing – about this project is that it must be done by mid-March.  All unions must file their LM2 reports with the Department of Labor by March 31.  It’s good because that deadline will force us to complete the work now.  It’s bad because there are an enormous number of bills, vouchers and deposits to enter into QuickBooks.

Right from the start Antosz questioned the validity of how the Local’s books were kept by the previous administration.  For example, she was amazed that some people had been reimbursed for money they supposedly spent on union business but they did not turn in any receipts.

Although we’re working very hard to meet the deadline, it will all pay off in the end.  By March 31 we will have a crystal clear picture of our finances from January 1, 2008.  And we’ll never again be in a situation where we cannot account for every single cent of our members’ money.

Fraternally,

John Macey

President, Local 308

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