DayMet CU Remains Deadlocked On UnionContract

DAYTON, Ohio - (03/23/05) -- The strike at DayMet CU stretchedinto its eight week as about 30 employees of the $92 million creditunion continued their picket this week. Representatives of thecredit union board and the employees union, the Office andProfessional Employees International Union, Local 98, met with afederal mediator Saturday but continued to be deadlocked over payraises, according to Mike Riesterer, president of DayMet. The unionhas asked for a 50 cent-and-hour raise, but the credit union hasoffered a 50 cent-an-hour lump sum bonus for every hour worked, atotal of $1,040 for the year. The credit union board argues thatthe employees already earn more than the local and nationalaverage, according to data compiled by CUNA, and they are worried a50-cent increase for each of the four years of the contract couldjeopardize the finances of the credit unions, which serves mainlyemployees of financially ailing General Motors and Delco automotiveparts. Temporary replacement workers have been running the creditunion for the past two months. "The board has made what I consideris a very good offer," Riesterer told The Credit UnionJournal.