Preparing to strike

Northern Lights Credit Union Ltd. employees say their customers should be prepared for a possible strike.

About five people held picket signs outside the Northern Lights Credit Union on James Street Wednesday afternoon. The Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada union represents 13 of the credit union’s employees.

The union and employer met at the bargaining table about three months ago, and more talks are scheduled for July.

Rene Lindquist, the CEP’s national representative, said negations weren’t going well so workers wanted to prepare customers in case a strike was called.

He said the employees had to hold the information picket because the credit union’s management was not informing their customers about the possible work stoppage.

"We just want a fair deal and if we have to strike then we will strike," Lindquist said. "Members the Northern Lights Credit Union have a right to know if their banking if going to be distributed."

Lindquist wouldn’t say what issues were being discussed, other than he believed non-union bank employees are getting special treatment for their non-unionized status.

"There are benefits that the other branches get that the people here don’t get," Lindquist said. "There are different perks within the units. Sick days, vacation days and different things that the other branches get but these ones don’t. We believe they pay these other branches different perks to try and keep the union out."

Audrey Halvorsen, vice-president of operations for Northern Lights Credit Union in Dryden, said they are in negotiations and the union has applied and appointed a conciliator.

When reached by phone, Halvorsen could not provide any additional information.