On Wednesday, May 5th, 2021, UWCU member-owners received a letter from our credit union informing us of recent changes made by management to our member agreement. These changes include forcing member-owners into binding arbitration in the event of disputes, and requiring member-owners to waive our rights to the courts, jury trials, and class-action lawsuits to resolve disputes or lawbreaking by our co-op. There is no online option provided to opt-out of these changes.

We believe these profoundly anti-member and anti-civil rights changes violate the spirit and cooperative principles that the UW Credit Union has long stood for. They are a step towards the co-op losing its way as a cooperative business. We also believe that the way these changes were made -- with no notice to the member-owners of the credit union, with no apparent interest in member engagement, and no opportunity for public comment and participation -- are a serious step backward in the democratic governance of our member-owned credit union.

We call on the UWCU board of directors -- our elected representatives to the board -- to reverse these proposed changes and rededicate the credit union to democratic governance, member engagement, and the cooperative principles and values.

Our committee is currently led by

• Heidi Wegleitner, Dane County Supervisor
• Vicky Selkowe, City of Racine
• Patrick O'Connor, Attorney
• Stacia Conneely, Attorney
• Karen Bauer, Attorney
• Heidi Miller, Attorney
• Jake Schlachter, We Own It

Find out more at https://bit.ly/UWCU-info