BUFFALO, N.Y. – Members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 212, which represents tellers at Cornerstone Community FCU, went on strike Friday and were picketing in front of the credit union’s offices.
The $240 million credit union shut down operations at two other locations, temporarily moving everything to its main offices.
The dispute involves benefits payments, with the credit union offering a contract that would ask employees to pay a bigger share.
The major sticking point concerns a demand by management that workers start paying more for health care, as insurance costs rose 53% from 2004 to 2008. Workers currently do not pay any portion of their premiums, but the credit union wants them to pay 5% of the monthly amount starting in November 2009, in addition to higher co-pays and deductibles.
The credit union also changed primary health plans to a less-expensive option with lower benefits, although employees still can buy up to the original plan if they choose.
Credit union officials said Friday they can hold out for more than a month with just one branch staffed by executives and volunteers. Officials are telling members to use one of five nearby shared branches to do basic banking, including deposits and withdrawals.
The strike comes just days after Cornerstone said it would open its fourth branch, in North Tonawanda. The branch is slated to open in September.
Cornerstone Community was chartered in 1957 as Unit No. 1 FCU for employees of the-then Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors Corp. (now Delphi Thermal System). Cornerstone serves people who live, work, volunteer, worship or attend school in Niagara County.
