JANESVILLE 鈥 Blackhawk Community Credit Union, a partner with local labor union UAW Local 95, has separated labor ties with the union that has long represented employees of the financial instutition.
In a statement, BHCCU said the UAW presented the credit union a 鈥渓etter of disinterest鈥 on July 14 that stated the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, known generally as the UAW, was no longer going to maintain representation of workers at the credit union.
UAW 95 said last week in a Facebook post that the union at one point recently had 鈥27 members鈥 at BHCCU, and a dwindling number of members on its bargaining committee.
鈥淵ou have to have people to have a union,鈥 the UAW said in a comment on its own post, with some other posters on the union鈥檚 Facebook page appearing to blame BHCCU鈥檚 executive leadership or the CEO, Lisa Palma for the UAW extinguishing its membership there.
The credit union in a statement said it 鈥渋s proud of our Fischer Body Plant & General Motors roots, established in 1965, and of the respectful relationship we have maintained with UAW Local 95 since 1981.鈥
In its statement, the credit union defended its culture as being 鈥渞espectful鈥 to employees. BHCCU denies its CEO, Palma played an active role in the UAW extinguishing its membership at the credit union.
鈥淭he claim that Lisa Palma is union busting is not accurate,鈥 the credit union wrote.
BHCCU said in its statement that the UAW submitted the following explanation in its letter of disinterest to the credit union:
鈥淚 am writing you to inform you that the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Workers of America (UAW) and its Local Union No. 95 hereby disclaim and waive any and all interest in representing and any rights to be the exclusive representative of employees of Blackhawk Community Credit Union.鈥
UAW 95 union leadership did not respond to phone calls or messages from 糖心Vlog传媒 seeking clarity on the union鈥檚 break with the credit union after 45 years of it representing rank-and-file employees there.
The credit union was established in 1965, initially as a lending and banking institution for Fischer Body workers, a division that ran at the former General Motors plant.
Until now, BHCCU and UAW 95 had maintained longstanding ties, with ongoing union membership, and at times, seating some current and former UAW members on the credit union鈥檚 board of directors.