International Machinists and Aerospace Workers Pay $151,000 Civil Penalty

Washington -- The Federal Election Commission (FEC) today announced a conciliation agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) District Lodges 141, 141-M and 142, Local Lodge 1487, IAMAW’s PAC (MNPL) and the PAC’s treasurer, in which they agreed to pay a $151,000 civil penalty for violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) by using union treasury funds to reimburse union member contributions to IAMAW’s PAC. 

Between 2000 and 2003, IAMAW District Lodges 141, 141-M and 142 and Local Lodge 1487 held at least twenty conventions and conferences in which delegates voted, according to longstanding practice, to donate their registration fees to IAMAW’s PAC, MNPL.  Many delegates from these lodges were reimbursed out of union treasury funds for their registration fees.  Additionally, IAMAW officers and MNPL representatives at each district and local lodge were aware that registrations fees were being contributed to MNPL.

            The Act prohibits unions from making contributions or expenditures from their general treasury funds in connection with any election of any candidate for federal office. Under the Act, it is illegal to reimburse any person for their contributions to any federal political committee.   Therefore, a union may not reimburse its members, directly or indirectly, for any contributions they make to a political committee.

*There are four administrative stages to the FEC enforcement process:

It requires the votes of at least four of the six Commissioners to take any action. The FEC can close a case at any point after reviewing a complaint.  If a violation is found and conciliation cannot be reached, then the FEC can institute a civil court action against a respondent.                                                     

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