Member Stories

With inflation on the rise, Pete Fu, like many Americans, is trying to stretch his dollars a little further. A trained chef with the New York City Department of Education, Fu said he regularly searches for discounts on his local union’s website. 

“I look to make some cuts in my expenditures and find ways to save money,” says Fu, a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 37, Local 372. 

When Fu learned he could save money each month by transferring his and his wife’s cell phone service to AT&T, he jumped at the chance. 

“With the rise in cost of living, we have to make up the difference in some way,” he says.

With the Union Plus AT&T Discount Program, union members can save $10 per line per month on the AT&T Unlimited PremiumSM plan, plus receive up to $50 in waived activation and upgrade fees*. Union members can enroll online through the Union Plus website, or they can go to an AT&T store.

“I got a coupon [from the Union Plus website] that I gave to AT&T and the benefits came up,” Fu says. 

By switching to AT&T, Fu estimates he’s getting monthly savings compared to his prior plan with another carrier.
 
He says he’s been exploring other Union Plus benefits too, saying, “I’d be a fool not to take advantage of all the benefits of being a union member. They’re there for the taking. I encourage union members to do their homework. There are benefits we can all take advantage of for being proud union members.”

To learn more about the Union Plus AT&T Discount Program, visit unionplus.org/att.

When loyal union member Beau Bittner found himself facing financial stress after losing his automaker factory job, he found a source of relief in his union hall – the Union Plus Job Loss Grant. Learn more about how Bittner caught a break

Beau Bittner, a member of the United Auto Workers (UAW), worked on the line at an automaker factory in Louisville, Kentucky doing torque inspections and ensuring the quality of big-name trucks and SUVs. He comes from a long line of union members and is heavily involved in his UAW local union.

“While it could feel like back-breaking work, the thing that I loved about my job was the union: it’s like family,” says Bittner. “It made going to work a pleasure every day.”

Bittner, who is the father of a young son, lost his job in early 2020. He faced an immediate loss in income, forced to become nimble about saving and finding extra dollars anywhere he could. Then, he caught a break.

“I was in our union hall, and I saw a flyer with information on the Job Loss Grant for Union Plus Credit Cardholders¹,” Bittner recalls. “I started Iooking into it right away.”

The Union Plus Job Loss Grant provides a $500 payment to eligible Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been laid off or experienced an involuntary job loss². 

Bittner used his job loss grant to pay immediate bills and keep his household going through this tough time.

“When I experienced a job loss, knowing that Union Plus was there for me and my family was so helpful,” Bittner says. 

The Union Plus Credit Card program is available to dues-paying members of participating unions and retired union members, as well as eligible family members³. The program offers several card options. Whichever card you choose, after three months as a cardholder, you may be eligible to apply for hardship grants. 

Find the Union Plus Credit Card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.

California School Employees Association (CSEA) member, Anna Avila, is an outreach worker at a Southern California high school who helps connect parents to resources throughout the community. When she landed in the emergency room after becoming ill, she had her union membership to thank for alleviating her stress. Avila ended up spending five days in the hospital and underwent emergency surgery without health insurance. 

“I saw how expensive it was getting,” Avila recalls of the medical bills.  

Then, in a stroke of luck, Avila learned about the Union Plus Hospital Grant.  

“I stumbled across it through an email in what seemed to be perfect timing,” she says. 

Avila applied for the Union Plus Hospital Grant¹ because she met the requirements for eligibility as a Union Plus Credit Cardholder² in good standing and for longer than three months before her hospitalization. Union Plus Mortgage, Supplemental Insurance or Retiree Healthcare program Participants are also eligible to apply. Avila used her $1,200 grant to pay for one of her surgery fees. 

According to Avila, applying was easy. 

“I just collected my bills and sent them in,” she says. 

The Union Plus Hospital Grant can be used to cover a wide range of out-of-pocket hospital expenses, including insurance deductibles, physician charges, medications, and other medical expenses incurred during hospitalization.  
 
“When I got back to work, I let everyone know about the hospital grant,” Avila says. “A lot of people weren’t aware of it. I said it’s there if you ever need it.”  

She continues, “The hospital grant came as a huge blessing and I’m so thankful it was available.”

To learn more about the Union Plus Hospital Grant and other Union Plus hardship benefits, visit unionplus.org/hardship.

Lori Vorderbruggen, a paraeducator in Champlin, Minnesota, enjoys the benefits from her husband’s union membership. He is an American Postal Workers Union (APWU) member. Because APWU participates in many Union Plus programs, Vorderbruggen has access to a wide range of benefits. 

Vorderbruggen and her sister used the Union Plus Vacation Tours program to book an unforgettable 10-day trip to Portugal. 

Union Plus partners with Collette Travel Service, a 105-year-old U.S.-based tour operator, to provide one-of-a-kind, worldwide vacation tours at a discounted rate for union members.* Collette is the most experienced tour operator in the world and offers trips to all seven continents.

One of the perks of taking a vacation with Collette is that all the planning is done for you. 

“It was so nice to not worry about where to get a hotel, or how to get to the airport,” Vorderbruggen says. “The biggest worry was where to eat lunch, but they even point you in the right direction for that.”

Day to day, travelers have a choice of activities from the pre-set itinerary and the option to add on other experiences. Vorderbruggen and her sister loved the add-on excursion they chose.

“Our favorite part of the trip was a boat tour through the grottos in Lagos. One of the best meals we had was on that excursion,” she remembers.

Vorderbruggen’s experience with Collette was even better than she bargained for. 

“Just with the hotels, Collette Guide and included transportation alone, it’s more than worth the cost of the trip. Then you throw in the dinners that come with wine,” she adds. “And the accommodations were nice; things I never would have booked for myself.” 

“I would absolutely recommend Union Plus Vacation Tours with Collette to other union members,” Vorderbruggen says.

Buying a new car was not a new experience for longtime International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) member Gary Reinsberg, but his latest purchase process was unlike any of his previous endeavors.

Reinsberg, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) inspector for the City of St. Paul, Minnesota, used the Union Plus Auto Buying Service in June 2021 and has rave reviews.

“This was by far the easiest vehicle purchase I’ve ever experienced,” Reinsberg says. “I provided some basic information and the type of vehicle I was looking for, and at least five dealerships I connected with said they could get the vehicle for me. It was a fabulous experience.”

The Union Plus Auto Buying Service¹, powered by TrueCar, provides union members with helpful tools to navigate the car buying process and find the perfect new or used vehicle, including the ability to research top brands, compare features, read reviews, find special member deals, and connect with certified dealers.

Additionally, union members get a $100 rebate2 on a new union-made car purchased through the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, and can enjoy post-purchase benefits up to $2,000.³

“The $100 rebate was the icing on the cake,” Reinsberg says. “Looking for a vehicle that you want can sometimes be a daunting task. With the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, it was done within hours, and it saved me a lot of time. The whole process was very pleasing and simple.”

To learn more about the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, visit unionplus.org/autobuying.

Brie is a mutt. Likely a mix of Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd, she's a little over a year old, furry, playful, and very much loved.

"She's got a cream color like a dairy product," says Brie's owner, Bruce Kube, a hematology supervisor at a university hospital and a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2190. "[The name] Cream wasn't good. Milk didn't apply, so we thought, Brie! Yeah, Brie!

Kube and his wife Carolyn, who is also a union member, adopted Brie in January 2022. “She licks our faces and climbs on top of us," Kube says. "Dogs are my life."

As seasoned dog owners, the Kubes knew that while puppies are cute, they can also be expensive. They decided to look into pet insurance through their unions and considered a few different options before settling on the Union Plus Pet Insurance plan, offered through Pets Best.

Pets Best offers union members up to 10 percent off monthly premiums¹ and a choice of three types of plans with flexible coverage options, helping members get reimbursed up to 90% on their eligible vet bills.* There are no annual or lifetime limits and no networks – members can choose any licensed veterinarian, emergency vet, or specialist in the U.S. You can submit claims easily with the Pets Best mobile app or online customer account, and they even offer free direct deposit for claims reimbursements. Pets Best also offers free 24-hour access to veterinary experts via email, chat, or phone for everything from emergency care to behavioral advice.

"Pets Best had the best coverage of all the plans that we looked at," Kube says. "I'm happy with it. It's much better than paying [full price] for each visit." He adds, “We take advantage of the union benefits. My philosophy is it’s foolish to not get discounts when you can.”

Hector Heredia has been an Iron Workers member for more than 40 years, most recently with Chicago's Local 63. These days, he makes sure all the automatic doors at Chicago O’Hare International Airport are running smoothly. Previously, he worked with power tools on steel structures.

"When I came up, there wasn't always hearing protection," he says. "Over time, I began losing my hearing."

Seven years ago, Heredia turned to hearing aids. His first set was okay, but he didn't like the warranty on them. A dedicated user of Union Plus programs, he discovered the Union Plus Hearing Care Program.

The Union Plus Hearing Program is free to access for union members and their families, which can even include the parents and grandparents of union members. Beneficiaries receive a free hearing exam and can get hearing aids and other treatments for more than 40% off, all offered through program partner Your Hearing Network.

"With my hearing loss in the mid- to severe zone, I need some really high-quality aids," says Heredia. "I have a top-of-the-line pair that is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. My insurance couldn't compete with Union Plus. I loved my doctors."

Heredia has many friends from his local with hearing loss and has become a vocal advocate. "I recommend them to anyone I see who can’t hear me," he says. "Union Plus has made it easy for us as union members. I love all of their programs, but this one is especially helpful and personal." He adds, "I told my wife she had to get a pair. We’re both very pleased."

Sara Zubroff, an AFT member and an English teacher at a Philadelphia high school, finds teaching very rewarding.

"It's great," she says. "If you can get kids interested and figure out how to convey the info you need to convey, then you see progress."

When Zubroff and her partner decided to buy a house recently, they looked within a 30-minute commute zone of Zubroff’s high school. They finally found a gem: an old stone colonial house built in 1934. Remodeled in 2014, it boasted a new addition, too.

"You go into the process and quickly find yourself asking, 'Who can I trust?'" she notes. "My sister is [also] a teacher and she suggested I go through my union as a starting point. I called my union rep and two other union members. They all said, 'Go with Union Plus.'"

The Union Plus Mortgage Program, with financing available through Union Plus Mortgage Company, is available for all eligible union members. The Union Plus Mortgage Company is union-owned and staffed by knowledgeable loan officers.

For qualifying members, there are special benefits for first-time homebuyers as well as:

• A $500 gift card after closing for purchasing or refinancing a home
• Special hardship mortgage assistance from Union Plus in the event of income loss due to disability, unemployment or strike/lockout.

"They were really responsive and got [our home purchase] completed very quickly," she remembers. "Union Plus was with me every step of the way. And through financing with them, I also received a $500 gift card. I'm so glad I received the recommendation to go with the Union Plus Mortgage Program."

Whether she's teaching in her classroom or virtually from home, Zubroff's new house has become a haven.

"Everyone should have access to this," says Zubroff. "And with Union Plus, they are putting that access in reach for AFT members."

Long Island resident Steve L. has been a university physics professor and a union member for the past 23 years.

As a longtime union member, Steve is used to receiving notices in the mail from his union or Union Plus alerting him to benefits and discounts available to union members.

Through one of those notices, he learned 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 their children purchase or refinance their homes while also offering exclusive union member benefits.

"We've done two refinances," he says, adding that the process "is relatively easy."

Steve says he received an award valued at $300 after closing on his refinance loan with Wells Fargo¹, once he verified his current union membership.

“We just sent off our kid to college,” Steve says. “We used it to pay for stuff in his dorm room.”

A bonus came a few months ago when Steve received an email letting him know he had won $1,000 in a sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders.

He says he will likely spend the money on his son's college expenses.

"That's where a lot of our money is going," Steve acknowledges.

To learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and its associated benefits, including mortgage assistance² in times of hardship, visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Karen Carthans, a retired American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 and current Retiree Chapter 59 member, calls herself a cheapskate. She regularly keeps an eye out for emails from her union and Union Plus alerting her to discounts and benefit programs that might save her money or put some extra funds in her bank account.

Earlier this year, Carthans received an email encouraging union members who had participated in the Union Plus Mortgage Program to enter a sweepstakes for the chance to win $1,000.

"This looked like something I could benefit from and the money would come in handy," says Carthans, who retired in 2014 after 39 years of service to the state of Illinois.

Carthans was eligible to enter the sweepstakes because years ago she and her husband, a retired transit union employee, refinanced their home 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.

Carthans says the refinancing process "wasn't that difficult." They found out about the program and its benefits — including an award after closing valued at $300¹ — through their Wells Fargo loan agent.

Carthans intends to put the sweepstakes winnings into some home improvement projects.

"I'm hoping to do a bathroom remodel,” she says. “It will be for something in the house."