The Connecticut Department of Labor is charged with regulating unions, but it doesn’t even know what unions, if any, fall under an annual reporting requirement.
In particular, a spokeswoman said department doesn’t know if the law applies to the union coalition that represents state employees, the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition.
State law requires all “labor organizations” that don’t file reports with the federal Department of Labor to file an annual report with the state. The law authorizes the department to fine union officials $25 for failing to file the report.
SEBAC, the Connecticut Education Association and a number of other unions don’t file at the federal level.
By law, only members of a union are allowed to examine its annual report. However, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, department spokeswoman Nancy Steffens said the department has no list of the organizations that fall under the statute.
This makes the law “difficult to enforce,” Steffens said.
“Based on that fact, and because unions are required to report information to the IRS that is similar to the information in an annual report, the agency may recommend that the statute be changed or eliminated,” she said.
When asked if SEBAC needs to file an annual report, Steffens said “our Program Policy Unit is uncertain as to whether they would be need to be included in this requirement.”