CUNA Mutual Union To VoteContract

MADISON, Wis. - (06/15/06) -- A long and bitter labor disputeneared an end Tuesday when CUNA Mutual Group and its employeesunion, the Office and Professional Employees International Union,Local 39, announced a formal contract agreement. Union rank andfile are expected to vote Thursday to ratify the pact, ending a15-month labor impasse. The four-year contract, would give about1,360 union employees average wage hikes of 4%, retroactively tothe March 31, 2004 expiration of the last contract, and address keyunion concerns over outsourcing and work hours, according tosources. A CUNA Mutual representative said the company is satisfiedwith the deal. "I can tell you that we are satisfied with theagreement that has been reached," said Sydney Lindner, spokesmanfor the credit union insurer.