TUKWILA, Wash. – As the Pacific Northwest attempts to dry out from last week’s floods, $8.5 million BECU is activating its “Member Assistance Program” in 12 counties across the Evergreen State today.
Todd Pietzsch, BECU’s manager of public relations, told Credit Union Journal, “The program provides need-based loans to help members pay expenses. If members’ houses have been damaged, or if they need rent to stay somewhere else temporarily, we want to give them the money to get through the situation. It is an unplanned event and we want to help our members get through it.”
Some of BECU’s 600,000 members are waiting for the axe to fall on their jobs after last week’s announcement by Boeing that it would cut 4,500 jobs later this year. The aircraft manufacturer said most of the reductions are expected to occur in Washington state in the second quarter. The workers will not know until February, when 60-day notices are sent out, exactly who will be let go. A company press release said “normal attrition” and a reduction in contract labor will account for some of the job reductions, but “layoffs of Boeing employees also are necessary.”
To assist members when the layoffs come, Pietzsch said, “What we’ve done for many years is offer ‘Surviving a Layoff’ seminars. We give tips on getting through that time. We will communicate through our website to let members know the seminars are available and will hold them at our financial centers.”
