One Bermuda Alliance chairman Michael Fahy last night pointed to the shortcomings of the last financial statement filed by Bermuda Industrial Union as he continued his campaign for the union to reveal its finances. Mr Fahy has obtained a copy of the accounts the BIU presented to the Registrar General for the three-year period ending September 2002: the last time it filed its accounts.The chairman said an examination of those accounts, which were rejected for being statutorily insufficient, raise further concerns about the union’s fiscal state. “There is a serious lack of explanatory notes attached to the accounts explaining receipts and costs, as is standard practice in financial statements, unclear line item explanations and no breakdown of large items,” said Mr Fahy in a statement.“What is remarkable is that expenditure in respect of union salaries grossly outstrips union membership dues. There is an unexplained loan and many line items are simply difficult to understand.”Mr Fahy claims the BIU has broken the law by not allowing its members to see approved financial statements for the past 12 years. He has repeatedly called for the union to let members know how much cash is in its coffers, claiming they are anxious to know if they will be supported in case of strike action or redundancies this summer.BIU president Chris Furbert has said the union’s computer system was one of a number of factors for the delay in filing the accounts and pointed out Mr Fahy’s former party the United Bermuda Party had no audit returns itself from 1993 to 1998.He has dismissed Mr Fahy’s ongoing complaints as “old news” and urged members to speak directly to the union if they have queries.But last night Mr Fahy said he would not back down, and called again for the Registrar General to pressure the BIU.“I continue to be approached by members of the Bermuda Industrial Union who want a clear picture of the state of their union’s finances,” said Mr Fahy in his statement.“The union has not filed any accounts with the Registrar General since 2003, as required by the Trade Union Act of 1965; and the accounts it filed for the years 1999 to 2002 were rejected for not meeting the requirements of the law. In light of these failures, no approved financial statements for 12 years, the Registrar General should institute proceedings under the terms of the Act. “To have the union reject our calls for a squaring of accounts because there was a systems crash, is simply not acceptable and akin to ‘the dog ate my homework’.“Union members whom I have spoken to are concerned primarily that the union does not have enough money to support them, as the threat of lay-offs and job losses grows each day. The union has urged members who have questions to speak to them directly, but there is an intimidation factor at play, which is why I first was approached some months ago. These workers continue to approach me. Even when questions are asked directly, members are apparently fobbed off with very general statements.”Mr Fahy said the union must show it is prepared to play by the rules. “There is a need for organisations across society to abide by the requirements designed to ensure the integrity of their operations,” he said.“It’s an important way to ensure the proper functioning of society: playing by the rules we have set for ourselves.“The workers who have spoken with me and my colleagues are looking for someone to stand up for them and ask questions on their behalf. We will continue to ask their questions and press for a resolution to this bizarre state of affairs. Members have a right to know what the heck is going on.”Useful websites: www.oba.bm