Officers have committed an offence by failing to file accounts for Bermuda Industrial Union, according to Bermuda Democratic Alliance chairman Michael Fahy.Mr Fahy says union members have told him they feel let down by officers who are continuing to keep them in the dark over the BIU’s finances as the threat of a grim summer lingers.He says workers want to know whether the BIU has any money to support them if they lose their jobs or are forced into strike action.And Mr Fahy questioned why no action had been taken against BIU officers, pointing out it’s an offence under the Trade Union Act 1965 to fail to submit audited annual accounts to the Registrar General before the first day of June every year.Financial statements for 2003 to 2009 were only submitted to auditors recently, and are still being prepared for presentation to the Registrar General.Mr Fahy said in a statement given to The Royal Gazette last week: “I have spoken to disgruntled union members who feel that they have been let down by the BIU officers.“This feeling is especially acute due to the economic downturn. The members I spoke to don’t understand what has happened to their union dues.“They want to know why, they say, there is apparently nothing in the pot to help them if they are laid off. They are even more concerned since they have not seen the accounts to which they are entitled under the Trade Union Act 1965, which specifically says that a general audited statement of the receipts, funds, effects and expenditure of [the union] shall be submitted to the Registrar [General] before the first day of June in every year and shall show fully the assets and liabilities and the receipts and expenditure.“The Act also says that any union member shall be entitled to receive upon request a copy of the general statement which shall be audited.”Registrar General Marlene Christopher said BIU management had promised accounts would be submitted to their auditors by April 15.Asked for an update last week, she told this newspaper: “I have been informed by the BIU that the financial statements for 2003 to 2009 have been sent to the auditors.“However, the statements in the format for presentation to the Registrar General are being prepared and will be sent to the auditors within the next week.”Mr Fahy asked what Ms Christopher is going to do about the BIU’s failure to submit its accounts.He continued: “The Registrar was not satisfied with the 1999 to 2003 accounts and the way they were presented. What is going to be done about that?“Why has this Act and its regulations apparently not been followed? Why has no real pressure apparently been brought since 1999 to have proper accounts filed for the benefit of the union members?“The Registrar may institute proceedings for any offence in this regard. Any union officers that fail to comply with the accounts requirements commits an offence. Why have there been no proceedings? Why have accounts been filed so late? Who is at fault?“Union members have a right to know how the union that represents their interests is being run especially given that dues are paid every week.“How are the hard-earned union dues spent? On what? On who? Is there value for money?“Are union dues and receipts from the union’s interests or properties, if any, invested for the members’ benefit for a rainy day or redundancies? The union members deserve answers. Nothing focuses the mind to accounts like a recession.”Union boss Chris Furbert did not respond to a request for a response; Ms Christopher declined to respond specifically to Mr Fahy’s statement.Useful website: www.thealliance.bm