AKRON, Ohio – A local labor union here is accusing a credit union of laying off workers who had supported formation of the union.
Cleveland.com reported that BFG Credit Union laid off eight employees in the spring. The Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 1794 said that seven of the eight who were originally let go had also been the “most vocal and staunchest” supporters of a union, Cleveland.com quoted Deb Kline, president of the local, as saying. The one employee who has since been called back to work was not a supporter of the union, and had only been at BFG FCU for a year, versus tenures of 10 to 29 years for those who remain out of work, according to the report.
The union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the credit union, alleging the employer had "discriminatorily" laid off employees "in retaliation" for forming a union, Cleveland.com reported. The case is pending. Other charges have also been made by the union, including that the credit union threatened workers with the loss of pay, pension and other benefits if they voted for a union.
Cleveland.com quoted BFG FCU’s CEO, Michael Owens, however, as stating in an e-mail that the “union's allegations are categorically false. (The) BFG Federal Credit Union values its employees and respects their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
"The recent closure of our Twinsburg branch office, near the now vacant Chrysler Stamping Plant, and the resulting reduction of several of our employees had nothing to do with any union-organizing activity, or any other protected, concerted activity, in which they may have been engaged,” Cleveland.com quoted Owens’ e-mail as stating. “In fact, BFG met with the union to bargain over the selection process. The layoffs were implemented, after careful consideration of available options, based on company-wide departmental seniority. The union preferred a different method that did not meet BFG's operational needs."
In May, OPEIU – joined by 11 area unions -- held a rally outside the credit union on South Main Street that included enormous inflatable rat with buckteeth, according to Cleveland.com.