In 1937, Ed Rice, a retired Metropolitan Life Insurance Company manager, became interested in the idea of a union that would represent insurance men. He contacted agents in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who in turn, discussed the idea with associates in Milwaukee and Racine. These men met secretly at the Wisconsin Hotel in Milwaukee, often parking blocks from the meeting place for fear that management was watching. By early 1938 they had formed three locals of the IULIA in Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine.
In 1939 the Wisconsin Labor Relations Board designated the union as a legal bargaining unit. Despite an attempt by the Prudential, Metropolitan, and John Hancock Life Insurance companies to classify the agents as independent contractors, the companies eventually recognized the union and began bargaining. In 1940 the companies renewed their claim that the agents were contractors rather than employees, this time pursuing their contention to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The court's decision required a second union election in July 1941. The union captured 79 percent of the vote in that election, and in September 1941 IULIA and the Prudential began negotiating their first contract. That first contract was signed on February 19, 1942. Agents working for John Hancock and the Metropolitan soon held elections and negotiated their first contracts as well.
In 1948 the Prudential requested an election in a thirty-one state section in the expectation that no union would be able to organize the entire area. Despite their small size, IULIA campaigned against the larger United Office and Professional Workers (CIO) and the Insurance Agents Council (AFL). Many IULIA members spent their vacations traveling around the country to inform colleagues about their union. Although they spent over $40,000.00, IULIA's election effort was unsuccessful, and the members of the IULIA concluded they could effectively represent members only in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio. IULIA continued to negotiate with the Prudential in two-year and then three-year contract cycles. They also held conventions to discuss challenges in the industry.
In 1993 the Union joined the United Food and Commercial Workers, bringing with them 1,500 members in the three states.
