Decision 2355E – California School Employees Association and its Chapter 47 (Shampine, et al.)

EERA section 3546.5 gives a union up to 60 days from the end of its fiscal year to prepare and make available reports required by EERA section 3546.5. An alleged violation of EERA section 3546.5 is to be processed as an unfair practice charge, and therefore the six-month statute of limitations found in EERA section 3541.5(a)(1) applies. An employee organization’s duty under EERA section 3546.5 to “make available” its financial report does not require the employee organization to affirmatively distribute its financial report to members who do not request it. It is a member’s request that triggers the organization’s duty to provide the financial report, not the passing of the 60 days after the close of the organization’s fiscal year. If an unfair practice charge is filed within six months of the organization’s refusal or failure to provide its financial report to a member who has asked for it, the charge is timely. A union member’s request for “financial records (Treasurer’s Report)” suffices as adequate notice to the union of a request for the union’s financial report required under EERA section 3546.5.