Credit union strike

The Thunder Bay branches of the Northern Lights Credit Union are treated like poor cousins despite doing as much business as all the other regional branches combined, says a union representative.

At 8 a.m. Monday, 14 local Northern Lights Credit Union employees went on strike, hitting the picket line at the Amber Drive location.

While there are salary issues, there are other problems with internal operations like scheduling, said Rene Lindquist, national representative for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union.

Local 240-1 had been in negotiations with the credit union since late spring; their contract expired on Dec. 30, 2010.

“Through a number of meetings and efforts, our concerns feel on deaf ears,” said Lindquist. “We went through the conciliation and mediation process and we were in legal strike position last Thursday. Today, the members hit the bricks.”

Northern Lights Credit Union’s head office is in Dryden and they have branches Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Rainy River and Ignace, none of which are unionized.

“It’s funny, this branch here does as much business as all those other credit unions put together,” Lindquist said. “There are perks to those other credit unions for all intents and purposes they give to those people just to keep the unions out of those branches.”

Lindquist said until their concerns are addressed, they will continue to picket.

“Hopefully management, within their wisdom, will soon realize we mean business and will come to the bargaining table and address our concerns,” he said.

A release issued by Northern Light’s Credit Union’s president and CEO Doug Robinson stated the credit union provided the union a final offer, which it considered to be very fair and reasonable given these tough economic times, on Aug. 24.

The Amber Drive branch will remain open during the strike. However, the James Street location will be closed. For those not wishing to cross the picket line, they can access their accounts at other credit union offices and ATMs, as well as through Internet and telephone banking.