The $600 million First Financial Credit Union will ask members to vote on removing a supervisory committee member from his post.
According to a letter to members obtained by the Credit Union Times, West Covina, Calif.-based credit union's board of directors unanimously approved an Aug. 25 proposition to call a special Sept. 24 meeting so members can vote on removing Richard Barnes from office.
Barnes stands accused of utilizing the credit unions e-mail system to "distribute offensive and inappropriate materials, including ethnic and racially derogatory material," according to the letter. An employee complaint prompted a board investigation that concluded Barnes did violate credit union policy.
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The board requested Barnes resign from his post, but he declined. He was once chairman of the supervisory committee, according to First Financial's 2008 annual report, posted online (www.ffcu.org).
The credit union declined to release details about the offensive e-mail or its e-mail policy, but did release a statement from Shirley Burkhardt, board chair. Burkhardt said the board not only has a fiduciary responsibility to members, but also an obligation to provide "a workplace free from discrimination and harassment of any kind."
"Our members will have the opportunity at the special meeting Sept. 24 to review copies of the e-mails and documents that led to our motion for removal," she said.
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