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USW ratifies agreement with Columbia Valley Credit Union
Following a contentious meeting of the 14-member Columbia Valley Credit Union – Golden United Steelworkers (USW) membership Monday night, a new three-year agreement was ratified by the membership by a slim 50 plus one per cent margin.
The new three-year agreement that will begin retroactively to July 1, 2018 and expire June 30, 2021, contains provisions for the membership’s enrolment in the Credit Union Central 1 Pension Plan effective July 1, 2019. It also called for a three per cent wage increase over the three years, retroactive to July 1, 2018 along with two $500 bonuses, one upon ratification and another July 1, 2019.
The new agreement also addressed issues of banking rates for employees; vacation flexibility and a two per cent increase to the RRSP contribution for the 2018 contract year prior to employees going into the Defined Benefit Pension Plan; among other improvements in the collective agreement language.
“The defined benefit pension plan participation was a big ask for our membership,” said negotiator Jeff Bromley. “When the employer agreed late in mediation to the proposal, we knew then it was going to come at a cost. That cost was a higher wage increase. How high we won’t know but the negotiating committee made the difficult decision to accept entrance into the pension plan. We believe it will be the best decision for the majority of the membership down the road.
“However, it wasn’t without controversy. A large portion of the membership isn’t happy that the credit union – which is doing very well in terms of capitalization and profit – wouldn’t come to the table with a higher wage increase,” Bromley said, adding, “A very pointed message was sent today to the employer that they’re not happy. Having a collective pass by one vote isn’t a great situation for either party.”
The USW will now continue its attention to the broader forest industry bargaining, representing over 330 members at the LP Golden Plant, along with over 5,500 members in Northern and Southern Interior of BC, the majority of which are in strike position.
The membership has taken part in rotating strikes throughout the province with a goal of pressuring the forest industry employers into a fair collective agreement. That collective agreement similarly expired June 30.
Submitted by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-405 (Cranbrook)