October 15, 2025

Prior issues of S-T Talk are available on our website. Just visit cwa.org/s-t-talk

QUARTERLY LOCAL S-T TOWNHALL ZOOMS:
As we wind down 2025, our next gathering of S-Ts will be on November 25, 2025. Be sure to update your email in Aptify so we can send you the Zoom invitation. During our next Townhall, Susan Sumara from our Dues Department will provide instructions on identifying cash dues payers and the process for Locals to collect dues payments.

We are always looking for topics to cover that are of interest to you, so please email stoffice@cwa-union.org and let me know what is of interest to you.

APTIFY:
Free downloadable CWA Materials items available in the CWA Learning Lab!
You now have the opportunity to browse and download select CWA Materials resources for free! This option helps you save on printing and shipping costs while giving you instant access to materials you can easily share with your members.

To get started, log into Aptify and click CWA Learning Lab in the top navigation menu. Then, click on the CWA Materials Downloadable Items module to view the full list of available resources. You can read more details HERE and reach out to AptifySupport@cwa-union.org with any questions.

COPE-COMPLIANCE:
LM Reports
Locals with a Fiscal Year Ending date of September 30, 2025, have an LM filing with the Department of Labor due electronically by December 29, 2025.

Helpful Tips for Preparations:

• Not all accountants have experience with labor unions and LM reports. If you plan to use an accounting firm, contact them early to discuss your needs, due dates, and the dates they need you to provide information to them.
• Don’t wait until the last minute; reconcile the local’s books monthly.
• Require documentation for every disbursement made.
• Assign sections of the report to separate individuals to work on.

Reporting Requirements:

• If total annual receipts are less than $10,000, Locals may use the online Form LM-4;
• If total annual receipts are less than $250,000, Locals may use the online Form LM-3;
• If total annual receipts are more than $250,000, Locals must use the online Form LM-2.

Go to the following links for more info on the LM-2, LM-3, and LM-4:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/reports/forms/lm-1-lm-2-lm-3-lm-4

PAF Card Information
To strengthen our outreach and better connect with our members, we kindly ask everyone to update Aptify with the contact information listed on the PAF cards as they are entered. Keeping this information current helps ensure that our communications are timely, accurate, and effective.

 Please be sure to update:

• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Text opt-in status

DUES:
Worried about cash flow if there are processing delays at HQ? We’ve got you covered with Local Pay!
What is Local Pay?
Local pay is a 75 – 80% advance on your expected dues income for a particular unit and dues month. This process was put in place to make sure the local’s overall cash flow is not affected by processing delays at HQ - due to processing backlog, software issues, missing files/money from the employer, files not matching payments, etc.

When do we get Local Pay?
Local pay is sent when dues for the scheduled month have not been processed by settlement time (15th or 31st of each month). Like dues processing, any local pay sent sits on the Unsettled Transactions Report because it is technically an outstanding amount due to HQ until the corresponding unit/dues month is processed. You will see it as a negative amount.

Once the dues for the local pay month are processed, we deduct the advance and pay you the remainder on the next settlement. You will see the dues processed as a positive amount, and the local pay as a negative amount in the deduction column on the Settled Transaction by Settlement Date reports.

(FYI - If dues for a unit/month are processed by settlement time, you get the whole amount due at once, so no local pay is needed.)

How is my Local Pay amount determined?
We look at the last 3-6 months of dues processing (excluding any months with an “extra” pay period for 26 or 52 deduction units). We plug the amounts from the Dues Summary by PU and Dues Period Reports into an Excel spreadsheet, average the amount due local, then take that average and multiply it by 75 – 80%. We round up or down to the nearest hundred dollars.

You can see your local pay set up on the My Local Pay report in the District/Local/Sector/Industry section of the reports menu.

Have more questions? There is a Local Pay/Settlement FAQ document in the portal’s Learning Lab, or you can find it at this LINK. 

And of course, we are always available at duesquestions@cwa-union.org.

FINANCE:
Reimbursement Deadline
Please remember that all reimbursements need to be submitted and processed within 90 days of the event.

MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS:
Images on Your Website Could Put Your Local at Risk for Fines
Photographers and media companies have gotten increasingly sophisticated about identifying their images that are being used improperly. CWA has recently received several notices flagging images that have been improperly used, resulting in significant fines. Our union has a strict policy against the improper use of copyrighted material of any kind.

The use of copyrighted material is of particular concern when posting photos and other images to websites and social media or sending them via email. Many people assume that they can use any image they find online. This is not true. In fact, most photos and images available online are subject to copyright protections.

To be safe, you should use photos and images that you or your members have created.

We recommend that you do not use images found on other websites. If you do, be very cautious. Many websites that claim to be “royalty-free” have strict requirements for attribution. If you don’t follow those requirements exactly, you can face fines.

Because of the increased scrutiny of copyrighted images online, especially photos, we recommend that you do a thorough review of your website and remove any images that might be subject to copyright.

If you have any questions or need help removing images from a UnionHall site, email commshelp@cwa-union.org.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
LAST CALL for 2025 CWA Annual Training Schedule: Aptify/Dues, XL, BU Refresher, and Grievance Management Module
Our 2025 training calendar is designed to cater to a diverse range of learners. Join us for any of the following sessions.

   Aptify and Dues process
   In-depth and detailed training to help new users learn how to use Aptify and understand the dues process
   (Duration ~3 hours)
        November 7, 2025 – 12 pm ET

   Bottom-up dues process Refresher
   This training is geared toward users who are already familiar with Aptify but would like to review the bottom-up
   process to solidify their skills. This training only applies to locals who have a bottom-up dues structure.
   (Duration ~ 1.5 hours)
       October 24, 2025 – 12 pm ET

   Microsoft Excel training
   Everyone is welcome to join and learn all of our tips and tricks to navigate through your Aptify data. We will 
   share the most useful MS Excel functions to optimize the data extracted from Aptify reports. 
   (Duration ~ 1.5 hours)
        November 21, 2025 - 12pm ET

   NEW Aptify Grievance Management module
   Streamline grievance filing and management with Aptify’s new web-based module — configure procedures, 
   manage deadlines, upload documentation, and track resolutions.

   With this module, local, district, and sector users can easily configure collective bargaining agreements’ 
   grievance procedures, employer and member data, upload supporting documentation, and manage important 
   deadlines to manage member grievances and track everything to get to a resolution. (Duration ~ 2 hours)

   LOCALS (Stewards/Local Rep/Local Officers) - Grievance Management module training sessions
        October 17, 2025 - 12 pm ET

   DISTRICT/SECTORS Reps - Grievance Management module training sessions
        October 31, 2025 - 12 pm ET

To sign up for one of our training sessions, please complete and submit this form. If you have any questions, email us at AptifySupport@cwa-union.org.

In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer