CUNA Mutual union vote authorizes strike  

The CUNA Mutual union announced at a Monday press conference that union workers may strike if a new contract with the company is not reached within a month, as stated in the Capital Times.  

A strike authorization vote last Wednesday followed over a year of contract negotiation by the Office and Professional Employees International Union, to which around 450 of the Madison office’s 1,750 employees belong. Of the total membership, 87% voted, with 92% in favor of a strike authorization. This marks a first in the over 80-year period since the Madison office unionized.  

Management has reportedly held firm to proposals opposed strongly by the union, including the reduction of health insurance and pension options. The company has also refused to adopt union proposals to promote pay equity and diversity within the company’s ranks, and the union has accused the company of outsourcing for positions that would otherwise be represented by the union.    

Additional controversies surrounding the recent strike authorization include the firing of Joe Evica, the union’s chief steward, over alleged inappropriate use of internal company information, as well as the company’s intent to reduce employee benefits even amid a record revenue of $5.2 billion in 2022.