Senator Sessions Fights OLMS Funding Battle
October 15, 2007
Dear Senator:
On behalf of the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF), an organization that supports the rights and freedoms of rank-and-file workers, I urge you to support Senator Jeff Sessions Amendment to S.1710, the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Committee approved bill.
S. 1710 cuts funding for the union financial monitoring agency the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) by $2,016,000 down to the FY 2006 level of $45.7 million, which will crush their success. Since 2001, indictments resulting from OLMS investigations have increased 20 percent and the courts have ordered restitution to union members of over $101 million. At the same time, the OLMS has obtained 781 convictions of union officers who have abused their position by stealing funds.
On the heels of a legislative season filled with anti-worker freedom legislation, cutting the OLMS budget gives union corruption the seal of approval to resume crime & fiscal improprieties without consequence. If there is any doubt regarding the correlation between OLMS funding and union monitoring, think again; the numbers speak for themselves. Consider that the agency’s budget increased 50 percent from 2001 to 2006 and at that same time convictions increased 26 percent – while union membership was on the decline. With direct, positive correlations between increased funding and a rise in convictions of corrupt union members, there will be no justification, Senator, if you align with big labor and against workers rights.
Senator Jeff Sessions’ amendment will enable the OLMS to continue its successful efforts. With additional funding and sufficient resources, the OLMS can be even more effective in its criminal pursuit. There are approximately 15,800 unions that filed the financial disclosure Form LM-2 and LM-3 last year. The OLMS, due to funding, only had the ability to audit a mere 4% of them.
Senator, you would never cut funding for a police department in your state when their convictions are higher than ever; so why cut funding for the OLMS when they have illustrated their effectiveness? The workers in your state deserve to have their union officials held accountable which is why we urge you to vote “yes” on Senator Session’s Amendment to S. 1710 as we WILL RATE a vote supporting this amendment.
Sincerely,
Brian M Johnson,
Director of Policy
