Member Stories

Washington, D.C. – Union Plus recently awarded $250,000 in scholarships to 193 students representing 38 unions. This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college, and trade or technical school students from 33 states.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program, now in its 34th year, awards scholarships based on outstanding academic achievement, personal character, financial need, and commitment to the values of organized labor. The program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.

Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded more than $5.9 million in educational funding to more than 4,200 union members, spouses, and dependent children. Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school, or recognized technical or trade school. The selection process is exceptionally competitive: 6,213 applications were received this year from 69 unions and all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and six Canadian provinces.

“The resilience, determination, and achievements of this year's scholarship winners is inspiring,” Union Plus President Mitch Stevens said. “We are proud to support these students from hardworking union backgrounds as they achieve their educational goals.”

Among this year’s winners are Ashlyne Costin, LaBrina Hopkins, and Nicholas Hossinger. 

Costin, whose mother is a CWA member and whose father is an IBEW member, is planning to attend the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. “The union community that shaped me has deeply inspired my desire to pursue my education,” Costin said. “I am eager to be part of the next generation working to ensure fair treatment for all workers, building on the legacy of those who have come before me.” 

Hopkins, a 25-year AFT member, was influenced by her own education to pursue a career in education; she is an educational leadership and organizational innovation doctoral candidate, in addition to being a special education teacher and serving on the board of AFT-Maryland and as state secretary treasurer. “My specific focus will be on teacher preparation, career progression, and fostering student outcomes,” Hopkins said. “As a young girl growing up amidst adversity in the inner city of Baltimore, I recognized education was my pathway out of poverty. I had a series of dedicated teachers from elementary to high school who poured into me and conveyed the belief that an education is paramount. I am passionate about sharing this love of education with students who look like me, come from similar environments, and face circumstances similar to mine.”

Hossinger, an IBEW member, is enrolled in an online engineering program through the Union Plus College Program, which offers affordable online certificate and degree programs to union families. Hossinger is an engineering technician who now runs his own electrical union shop. He also teaches others his craft one night a week. “I am furthering my education for the betterment of myself and for those I can help teach and inspire,” Hossinger said. “The union saved my life, and I am forever grateful for it.”

About Union Plus
Union Plus, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, uses the collective buying power of America’s nearly 15 million union members to deliver top-quality benefits and services at competitive prices to working families. In addition to the scholarship program, Union Plus offers the College Program with exclusive tuition discounts, financial aid, and grants, providing union members and their families the opportunity to earn an affordable, online degree that fits their schedule, interests, career goals, and budget. Union Plus also provides a wide range of other benefits, including financial services and money-saving programs, including exclusive everyday discounts on wireless service, travel, and more. Visit unionplus.org to explore Union Plus’s 30-plus benefits.

Tom Bixler has worked hard at his job making glassware molds at a manufacturer in Toledo, Ohio for over four decades.

Bixler bought his home in 2000, and in 2013 he refinanced the mortgage – this time through the Union Plus Mortgage Program. 

With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

Mortgage transactions took place over phone and email until closing, when Wells Fargo sent a title company representative to Bixler’s home. 

“It was all taken care of over the phone, and it was just as smooth as silk,” Bixler says.  

Bixler was also able to set up automated mortgage payments and increase the frequency of the payments to twice monthly instead of once per month. More frequent payments mean Bixler pays less interest on the loan. 

“That’s one of the great benefits for me,” he says. “It’s easy, you don’t have to worry about it, don’t have to think about it and you can actually pay it off early. That’s one of the things I like about Wells Fargo and got me sold on it after I got the mortgage.”

Another benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Program is the added security through the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program, which Bixler said he learned about through an email from Union Plus. The Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike¹. 

“I look at all [the Union Plus benefits] to see if there’s something available for whatever I’m doing,” Bixler, who is also a Union Plus Credit Cardholder, says. 

To learn more about the benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage Program, visit unionplus.org/mortgage. 

Tarrance has been a library assistant at one of the 55 branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia system for over two years.

“I like pretty much everything about my job,” says Tarrance. “I leave books out for kids, handle holds, make library cards and greet visitors. It’s not strenuous and I get to be with good people.” 

Tarrance has also been able to take advantage of one of the key benefits of her AFSCME membership: leveraging the consumer discount programs of Union Plus. 

“I already had a Union Plus Credit Card. I joined a homebuyer session and I learned all about the Union Plus Mortgage Program,” recalls Tarrance. “I decided right then to use it for buying a house.”

She says, “It all made sense to me how they were real, union-focused benefits. I filled out the brochure and I found my house soon after that. It was an easy process.”

With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

Tarrance learned about the Union Plus Happy Homeowner Sweepstakes when she logged on to make a mortgage payment. 

“I had one of those sweepstakes moments where I said, ‘I never win anything, but I’m going to fill this out,’” she says. “I can’t say that anymore!”

Tarrance learned she’d won $1,000, which she and her partner decided to put to practical use. 

“I already felt great about Union Plus and the mortgage program before the sweepstakes, but as you can imagine, I feel even better about it now,” says Tarrance. “I would recommend that every AFSCME member checks out the Union Plus programs. It’s a huge benefit for us.” 

To learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program, visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Lottie Tagupa is a Southwest Airlines customer service agent based in Kailua-Kona on Hawai`i Island. Tagupa, a longtime International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 142 member, is also a longtime homeowner in Kamuela, Hawai’i.

Tagupa took advantage of lower interest rates during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to refinance her mortgage. She compared several options in the competitive market and landed on the Union Plus Mortgage Program. 

With financing through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

“I settled on Wells Fargo because they were there for me,” Tagupa says. “They consistently demonstrated that they were interested in my business. Wells Fargo maintained contact with me, and they were always there to answer my questions. It has been an all-around great experience.”

Not only was her experience great, but her overall benefit package and the bonuses of working with a Union Plus program helped Tagupa feel even better.

“I didn’t see anything from places that were being funded in Hawai`i that was better than Wells Fargo [at that time],” she remembers. “I got a really good rate, and the package was well put together. The Union Plus partnership was also a big motivator for me because it offered better incentives than other options.”

Tagupa has notarized many mortgage closings through the years as a notary public, and she appreciates Wells Fargo’s affiliation with Union Plus.

Those who finance a purchase with Wells Fargo and mention their eligibility as a verified union member receive a $500 My Mortgage Gift¹ award after closing.

Additionally, the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program² provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike. 

Tagupa was recently among the winners of a sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders and received a $1,000 check. 

“I used the money to pay my IAM dues for the whole year,” Tagupa says. “Why not pay it back to the union?” 

Visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Adriana Picasso and her husband were married for a few years when they decided they wanted to upgrade their house for a little more space. After they found their dream home in northern Virginia, Picasso told their real estate agent they had the financing covered already.

“We said we have our own,” recalls Picasso, a 30-year airline customer service employee and 25-year member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). “We want to do it with Union Plus and we want to do it with Wells Fargo, and that’s how it’s going to go.”

With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

Picasso has used the program before to buy and refinance two other properties.

“I did the same thing I did before,” Picasso says. “I called this guy [at Wells Fargo] and said we want to apply for a mortgage. He did everything through emails and electronic signatures. It went really well.” 

Another benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Program is the added security through the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program, which provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike. ¹

“We went with Union Plus because of the benefits,” Picasso says. “We got a great rate, a fixed rate. And if we go on strike, we want to have peace of mind.” 

The Union Plus Mortgage Program is not the only Union Plus benefit Picasso and her husband, who is also affiliated with IAMAW, have received through their union memberships. They’ve also used the Union Plus Legal Program and the Union Plus Pet Insurance Program. 

To learn more about the benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage Program, visit unionplus.org/mortgage. 

Aurora Dagudag wanted to have a more personal relationship with her mortgage company. Several years ago, she had to file an insurance claim for some hail damage. The mortgage company was out of state, their customer service was lacking, and she had to mail all the paperwork instead of dealing with someone face-to-face.

“It was such a hassle,” remembers Dagudag, a nurse in Minneapolis and a member of National Nurses United (NNU).

Dagudag wanted to refinance with a local mortgage company or at least one with a physical office she could go to. Her friends told her to try Wells Fargo.

“They said it’s good to have your mortgage local, so you can go to a real person instead of having to call them on the phone,” Dagudag says.

It wasn’t until she reached out to Wells Fargo that she found out about the Union Plus Mortgage Program. With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents and children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.  

“I didn’t know about it until he said something,” Dagudag says of the Wells Fargo mortgage consultant. “He said because I was in a union, they had perks for being union members.”

She adds, “I had to fill out a form and get a signature from our union leader. “It was just one form – that was it. It was easy to verify my union membership.”

Dagudag also likes the security behind the Union Plus Mortgage Program, which includes access to the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program. This program provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike¹.

“All of a sudden, our union is having a contract negotiation and we’re planning to strike. I remembered what the mortgage consultant said about Union Plus in times of strike,” Dagudag says. “I hadn’t expected to go on strike. I was just reading about how Union Plus can help me. The strike might happen next month. And any money helps.”

Luckily for Dagudag, Union Plus has already helped her out in a different way. Recently Dagudag received a postcard from Union Plus, inviting her to enter a sweepstakes for Mortgage program participants.

Dagudag usually signs up for raffles and sweepstakes and considers herself lucky. After all, she once won a vacation to the Bahamas. So, she entered the sweepstakes and got a call from Union Plus letting her know she had won $1,000.

“I couldn’t believe it, but then I remembered applying and I thought, ‘OK, I think it’s legit,” Dagudag says. “My husband said, “You’re always lucky”.

Visit unionplus.org/mortgage to learn more about the benefits of a Union Plus mortgage.

Williams used the Union Plus Mortgage Program to refinance his family’s house with financing through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. The Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

“It’s a sense of security, knowing that I’m closer each month to owning this house, and no one can take it from me,” Williams says.

Williams noted that the added benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program made his decision to refinance through the Union Plus Mortgage Program a no-brainer. The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike.¹

“It’s a big deal knowing that I won’t lose my house if I go on strike,” Williams affirms. “That’s the bottom line for me, knowing that if my coworkers and I decide that we want to fight for what we know is right — whether it’s wages or benefits or healthcare — that my home will be protected.”

Of his union career, which has included serving as president, secretary, treasurer and steward of Local 7804 over the years, Williams says he “hit the jackpot.”

Through the years, Williams has happily shared the value of union membership with others, including the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

“I tell others about the program over and over again, especially when we go into a bargaining year,” he says. “If you’re refinancing or buying a house, make sure to go through Wells Fargo with Union Plus.”

Visit unionplus.org/mortgage for more information about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and its associated benefits.

When American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) member Sarah Lamm learned about a sweepstakes entry opportunity for those who financed through the Union Plus Mortgage Program, she “filled it out and forgot about it.” Lamm went right back to work at her challenging and fulfilling job at the Social Security Administration.

“I’m gratified by being able to help people and by what Social Security can do for them,” she says. “Even though the social worker in me wants to do more.”

Lamm is thoroughly involved in her local union and recently attained union representative status. Becoming a union member also empowered Lamm to buy a home.

She used the Union Plus Mortgage Program, with financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. This program helps union members, their parents and children purchase or refinance homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

“Working with Wells Fargo on my mortgage was smooth and easy,” Lamm says. “I got a great rate and there were so many varieties of assistance for union members, including a strike grant, that really attracted me to the program. It’s like Union Plus really gets union members.”

The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out, or go on strike.¹

“I tell everyone I know about this,” she says. “I texted a co-representative in the union and he obtained his mortgage through the program. It’s really unique and really good.”

For more information, visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Eugenio Ramos was an ironworker in New York City for 30 years and a member of Iron Workers Local 580. During that time, Ramos estimates he worked on three-quarters of New York City’s skyscrapers.

“There were a lot of cold days,” he says.

Several years ago, Ramos and his wife, Yvette, decided to buy a townhome in Monroe, NY — a quiet suburb away from the constant hustle and bustle of Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.

Even though the housing development had a preferred lender, Yvette convinced her husband to look online to see if he had any union benefits that might help during the home buying process. They found the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

“We get emails from Union Plus all the time,” Ramos says. “My wife saw it — she goes through all the emails.”

With financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the Union Plus Mortgage Program helps union members, their parents, and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits – like $500 back after closing.¹

“The rates were comparable, but Union Plus had an added bonus,” says Yvette. “We got a $500 gift card. When you’re buying a new house, that comes in handy.”

She added that the process of using the Union Plus Mortgage Program was user-friendly.

“We had to fill out a form and someone contacted us,” Yvette recalls. “It was nice and very easy.”

Another benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Program is the added security through the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program, which provides interest-free loans and grants to eligible union members to help them make their mortgage payments in the event they become disabled, unemployed, locked out or go on strike.²

Recently, the Ramoses benefited from yet another perk of the Union Plus Mortgage Program — the annual Happy Homeowner Sweepstakes.

Eugenio Ramos received an email from Union Plus, inviting him to enter the sweepstakes. Yvette spotted it and entered.

“I always enter him in all the sweepstakes,” Yvette says. “He doesn’t even know.”

So, when Ramos got a call from Union Plus telling him he had won, he hung up because he thought it was a scam. Yvette asked him about it a few days later.

“I think you actually won,” Yvette said.

Eugenio Ramos is still deciding how to spend the $1,000 he won. He said he might buy a suit or two. He is also thinking about going back to work — this time to start a business as a personal shopper. He said he already styles his wife and some of his friends, but it would be great to style others and get paid for it.

“I go shopping for people who don’t like to shop or don’t have time to go shopping,” he says. “I enjoy it, I think I want to get into that business.”

For more information, visit our Union Plus Mortgage Program page.

Kevin Stringer was born in New York City where he grew up to become an elevator constructor. Joining the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) ensured him a dual career with an ever-upward trajectory. 

“I began my career non-union,” says Stringer. “Then I saw how union members were treated – the pay, the respect, the representation, and how union workers left places better than they found them. I quickly joined.”

Stringer’s career skyrocketed from there. 

“I became a shop steward for my local in New York, and then I moved to Clark Summit, Pennsylvania, outside Scranton,” he says. “There I was elected to the executive board and eventually became president and business agent.”

Stringer ultimately ran and won the vice presidency of the international union and became a regional director. His last post prior to retirement was as the international’s general treasurer and secretary.

Throughout his career, he remained passionate about building and maintaining elevators from the ground up and met many different people.

“I worked for nearly nine years with the New York City Housing Authority,” Stringer remembers. “I found myself in so many neighborhoods that were economically challenged, and it felt like we were making a difference and helping some great people.”

Along the way, he’s seen it all – from steam-operated elevators of a bygone Manhattan to modern technologies that lift and lower people reliably. He’s also leveraged union member benefits to improve his own life, including financing his home through the Union Plus Mortgage Program.  

This program, with financing available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, helps union members, their parents and their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union-member benefits.

Stringer even entered a sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders and to his surprise, he won. He plans to spend his winnings on vacation with his wife, and he believes that every union member should utilize all of the programs that Union Plus has to offer. 

“They are union people who are there for union workers. When you’re out of work, they’re there. When you strike, they’re there. They have great programs, grants, insurance and are there to help you solve problems when things go wrong. They’re the best,” he says.