Press release from United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-405 -
Workers at Heritage Credit Union and HG Insurance in Castlegar are poised to issue 72-hour strike notice after the membership turned down the employer’s final offer July 18.
After commencing bargaining in May it was clear that the unilateral changes to the pension made in 2010 – identified by the membership as the number one issue on the bargaining table from day one – were going to be a stumbling block.
“The membership gave clear indication that getting a deal was going to have to include making up the shortfall to the pension that our members suffered when changes were made in 2010,” said Doug Singer, President of USW Local 1-405 which bargains for the 35 members at Heritage Credit Union and HG Insurance in Castlegar and Slocan Park.
“This isn’t the direction we wanted to go but the employer leaves us little choice,” continued Singer. The workers at both Heritage Credit Union and HG Insurance have been without a contract since May 31.
The Union also called upon a provincial mediator to help the two parties come to an agreement but the issues could not be resolved.
Singer added that the Bargaining Committee will meet with the workers one more time prior to issuing 72-hour strike notice.
The United Steelworkers Local 1-405 is a diverse union representing over 1100 workers in Sawmills, Credit Unions, Insurance Services, Hotels, Ski Resorts and Municipal workers in the East and West Kootenays.