The Union Credit Union
Encyclopedia
The Union Credit Union is a natural person credit union
chartered to serve union
members. A national advocate for unions and union members, it is headquartered in Spokane, Washington
.
In 1968 members of Bricklayers
Local 3 founded The Union Credit Union as a not-for-profit means of obtaining loans and saving money. Originally the credit union served only trade union
members and was named, Inland Empire Trades Credit Union. Today members from any union
can belong and bank at The Union Credit Union. The families of union members, union employers and unions can also hold accounts and obtain loans at The Union Credit Union.
The Union Credit Union received media attention in 2008 for a series of advertisements using the phrase "It just works for me" without a logo or name attached.
. Members can obtain Step-Up Loans for tools, job training or college. The credit union also handles payroll for union shops.
For union workers, ongoing access to job training, provided for by the Step-Up Program, is a proactive solution to the challenges the new global economy poses. This program is the first of its kind in the nation to address workforce development, before early intervention.
The program stems from an understanding of the financial needs of union workers and their impact to the economy. The program was conceptualized from the historical writings of Edward Filene
’s vision in founding both unions and credit unions in the United States to serve the employees of Filene's Department Store
. Filene was an advocate for workers' rights and supported his staff in collective bargaining. He also was a founder of the Chamber of Commerce - understanding what was good for employees was also good for business.
The credit union sees a need for the Step-Up Program. Union councils and state agencies across the United States are diligently working and desperately searching for an innovative solution to addresses the problem of displaced workers. The best programs to date provide “early intervention” after the worker is displaced.
This program is the first of its kind to create a reality where labor, finance and governmental agencies are working together to keep people in their current jobs. Its proponents say it is good for individuals, businesses and Washington’s economy.
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
chartered to serve union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members. A national advocate for unions and union members, it is headquartered in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
.
In 1968 members of Bricklayers
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers is a labor union in the United States and Canada which represents bricklayers, pointers/cleaners/caulkers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters, terrazzo and mosaic workers...
Local 3 founded The Union Credit Union as a not-for-profit means of obtaining loans and saving money. Originally the credit union served only trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members and was named, Inland Empire Trades Credit Union. Today members from any union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
can belong and bank at The Union Credit Union. The families of union members, union employers and unions can also hold accounts and obtain loans at The Union Credit Union.
The Union Credit Union received media attention in 2008 for a series of advertisements using the phrase "It just works for me" without a logo or name attached.
Advocacy
The credit union's mission is to provide union members with a not-for-profit banking alternative. The Union Credit Union is the only remaining credit union in the United States run by an all union staff, board and management. The credit union has positioned itself as an outspoken advocate against union-affiliated credit unions merging into community chartered credit unions resulting in the loss of unique services to union members.Employees
The Union Credit Union has an all union staff, all union volunteer board of directors and the CEO is also a union member. Demaris Krummel is the CEO of The Union Credit Union.Services
The Union Credit Union allows union members to skip loan payments during difficult times, including union strikeStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. Members can obtain Step-Up Loans for tools, job training or college. The credit union also handles payroll for union shops.
Partnerships
The Union Credit Union has partnerships with the following unions to serve their members:- Washington State Labor CouncilWashington State Labor CouncilThe Washington State Labor Council is the Washington branch of the AFL-CIO. It represents all AFL-CIO affiliates in state politics, and is major interest group, particularly for Democratic politicians. The organization was split when several national unions broke from the AFL-CIO and formed the...
- Asbestos Workers Local 82
- Bricklayers Local 3 (Spokane/Montana)
- Carpenters Local 98
- Cement Masons
- Communications Workers of AmericaCommunications Workers of AmericaCommunications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
Local 7818 - Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 44
- Roofers Local 189
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 66
- Inland Northwest Apprenticeship Coordinators Council
- Inland Northwest Electrical Training Trust
- Spokane Regional Labor Council
- Washington Federation of State Employees
- United Steelworkers of America
Grant program
The Step-Up Program is a consumer financial education and workforce development program to help the 2.7 million union workers in Washington state to take the next step up in life. Below market rate, not-for-profit Step-Up Loans are offered to union workers at their place of employment and union halls. The loans are used to cultivate new skills and obtain tools that support workforce development, transitioning and enhancing the skills of our employed workforce with the changing economy. This is an alternative to early intervention-helping working people to keep their current jobs and remain relevant even as the world changes.For union workers, ongoing access to job training, provided for by the Step-Up Program, is a proactive solution to the challenges the new global economy poses. This program is the first of its kind in the nation to address workforce development, before early intervention.
The program stems from an understanding of the financial needs of union workers and their impact to the economy. The program was conceptualized from the historical writings of Edward Filene
Edward Filene
Edward Albert Filene was an American businessman, social entrepreneur and philanthropist...
’s vision in founding both unions and credit unions in the United States to serve the employees of Filene's Department Store
Filene's Department Store
Filene's Department Store is a historic department store building at 426 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing, Boston, Massachusetts that was home to the main Filene's store.-History:...
. Filene was an advocate for workers' rights and supported his staff in collective bargaining. He also was a founder of the Chamber of Commerce - understanding what was good for employees was also good for business.
The credit union sees a need for the Step-Up Program. Union councils and state agencies across the United States are diligently working and desperately searching for an innovative solution to addresses the problem of displaced workers. The best programs to date provide “early intervention” after the worker is displaced.
This program is the first of its kind to create a reality where labor, finance and governmental agencies are working together to keep people in their current jobs. Its proponents say it is good for individuals, businesses and Washington’s economy.