United Assn Plumbing & Pipefitting

“Local 44 is a labor union with dues paying members who are journeymen, apprentices or retirees.”

“All members in good standing, except journeymen who have not been initiated, honorable withdrawal members and apprentices in probationary period, are allowed to elect officers. Officers are elected every three years. The next regularly scheduled election is in December of 2026.”

“Members in good standing, except journeymen who have not been initiated, honorable withdrawal members and apprentices in probationary period, are allowed to bring initiatives before the membership for ratification under the rules, policies and procedures of the local.”

“The Form 990 was prepared under the guidance of the organization's Business Manager by the independent accounting firm SCHOEDEL & SCHOEDEL, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC. Draft copies of the organization's financial statements and Form 990 were first provided to the organization's Business Manager who reviewed the Form 990 for accuracy and completeness. Any questions, concerns, or issues raised by the Business Manager were addressed, and any necessary revisions were made to the Form 990. The revised Form 990 was then provided to the Executive Board for its review and approval. Any additional questions, concerns, or issues raised by the Executive Board were addressed, and any necessary revisions were made to the Form 990. The final version of the Form 990 was reviewed, approved for filing by the Executive Board.”

“To ensure the Local operates in a manner consistent with its tax-exempt purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, the Executive Board conducts periodic reviews. The periodic reviews include, at a minimum, the following subjects: Whether the contractual arrangements with service providers and the services provided are reasonable, based on competent market and survey information, and the result of arm's length negotiation. Whether contractual arrangements with service providers and arrangements with other organizations conform to written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further tax-exempt purposes, and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction. Whether any transaction conducted by Local 44 during the period under review involves or could possibly give rise to a conflict of interest. Additionally, officers, board members or any other person having responsibility for the management or administration of Local 44's finances, investments, or other proprietary information concerning the local are considered interested persons. An interested person is under a continuing obligation to disclose any potential conflict of interest to the Executive Board as soon as it is known or reasonably should be known. The interested person is given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the Executive Board when considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. After disclosure of the financial, professional, or personal interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she leaves the board meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is considered. If the disinterested members of the Executive Board determine a conflict of interest exists, the President of the Board, if appropriate, appoints a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement. After exercising due diligence, the board determines whether the local can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement with a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably attainable under circumstances that would not give rise to a conflict of interest, the Board or committee determines by majority vote of the disinterested members whether the transaction agreement or arrangement is in the Local's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination the Executive Board decides whether or not to enter into the transaction agreement or arrangement. The minutes of the meeting reflect that the conflict disclosure was made to the Board, the vote taken and, where applicable, the abstention from voting and participation by the interested party. Whenever possible, the minutes frame the decision of the Executive Board in such a way to provide guidance for consideration of future conflict of interest situations.”

“Business Manager compensation is determined by the compensation committee and approved by the Executive Board using comparable data from within the local area and surrounding jurisdictions based on standard union wage scale.”

“Local 44's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, financial statements and Form 990 are available to the general public upon written request sent to the organization at 3915 E Main Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202.”