Unionized members ratify Heritage Credit Union three-year deal
By Nelson Daily Staff
There will not be picket lines up at the Heritage Credit Union in Castlegar and Slocan Park after the membership ratified a three-year agreement in a close vote Monday night.
Jeff Bromley, Financial Secretary for USW Local 1-405 and lead negotiator for the union said the vote was “close” and “contentious” but was passed by the membership.
“The membership certainly didn’t embrace it but at the end of the day, we’re a democratic organization and it was passed,” Bromley explained.
“The offer did improve upon the pension issue, which was our biggest issue, at least for this contract. At the end of the day, a majority of the workers decided that it was enough.”
“However it’s an issue that’s not going to go away,” he added.
The two sides in the dispute had been without a contract since May 31.
In June the union took a strike vote and was handed a 95 percent support from the membership. Twice Bromley and the members threatened to strike and twice the company, first had the membership vote on a final offer, and then, sweetened that offer a second time.
Had the union put up picket lines management at the Heritage Credit Union and HG Insurance planned to keep the two operations open with skeleton staff.
See previous:
Comments