WASHINGTON — Nearly three-and-a-half years after NCUA employees voted to organize, NCUA and the National Treasury Employees Union have finally reach a bargaining agreement.

A few items remained for the two parties to straighten out, which they brought before the Federal Labor Relations Authority's impasse panel, but were eventually ironed out between the agency and the union. The impasse panel was supposed to meet last week on the matter.

"After difficult and prolonged negotiations, I am pleased to report that NTEU and NCUA have reached a tentative three-year contract that includes significant merit pay increases for high-performing employees and the institution of critical workplace rights for all workers," NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said. She said that NTEU had to fight a number of agency proposals to cut pay and limit grievance and arbitration rights. Additionally, many NCUA examiners work out of their homes and, she said NTEU was able to retain an examiners home as an "official" worksite and keep mileage reimbursement.