Member Stories

But Lencioni, a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), acknowledges his real luck was securing a 30-year fixed home loan 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.

“One of [our Wells Fargo mortgage broker’s’] first questions was, ‘Are you in a union?’” Lencioni recalls. “We found out [my union participated in] the Union Plus Mortgage Program. It worked out beautifully for us.”

Lencioni and his wife Rebecca qualified for a great rate, but most of all, they liked the security behind the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

All Union Plus mortgages include access to the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program¹, which provides interest-free loans and grants from Union Plus when members out are out of work due to a union-approved strike, lockout, involuntary unemployment, or disability.

“If you lose your job, they help you out,” says Lencioni.

Lencioni and his wife intend to use the sweepstakes money for new exhaust fans in the bathroom and to mend their back fence.

“It’s money we weren’t expecting,” he says. “We’re going to reinvest it in the house.”

Thomley has worked in meatpacking for 28 years. Amid COVID-19, he is diligently working to fill orders, pack meat and ship product with a high level of safety and precision.

"I'm just grateful to have a job," Thomley says.

Across his nearly three decades of service, Thomley has also been a dues-paying UFCW devotee.

"The union is everything [in this profession]," he says. "I'm union proud."

When Thomley and his wife bought their St. Paul home 15 years ago, they turned to Union Plus to finance their loan.

"My wife checked to see if there was a home mortgage option [through Union Plus] and we went for it," recalls Thomley. "Wells Fargo made it very easy."

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, including gift cards after closing1 and mortgage assistance in times of hardship².

Thomley's wife encouraged him to enter the mortgage sweepstakes last year.

"I totally lost track of it until I found out I’d won," Thomley says. "When I found out, you know, with all of the crap that's going on in the world today? It was just wonderful."

Thomley decided to use his winnings to resupply on lawn and garden supplies.

"I've always had great feelings about Union Plus, but now? Now I’m going to let everyone know about Union Plus," says Thomley. “The perks of Union Plus just make me love my union even more."
 

White, who is a member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), acknowledges she also got lucky with her home loan through the Union Plus Mortgage Program a few years ago.

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.

When White and her husband, Kaleb, were in the market for a new home, she remembered reading about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and decided to check it out.

"We had found a house we really wanted, and we started looking at our different options," White recalls. "I noticed that there was a Union Plus Mortgage Program connected with Wells Fargo. They helped us get all set up, it was great. It went really smoothly; it was very straightforward."

One benefit of the Union Plus Mortgage Program is the security the program offers. The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and grants from Union Plus when members are out of work due to a union-approved strike, lockout, involuntary unemployment, or disability.¹

White said the sweepstakes money came at the right time. She and her husband are putting it toward school tuition for her younger son.

"It's a good blessing that wasn’t expected," she says.

Audrey First loves where she lives.

"It's a really nice, calm neighborhood, close to everything without being in the middle of the city," she says.

First and her husband Jesse, a member of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11 (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees), bought a house in Mansfield, Ohio a few years ago. It's a great place to raise their young daughter, and it's not far from Jesse’s job is a correctional officer.

The Firsts were able to buy their house 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.

First said the Wells Fargo loan officer made the whole mortgage process hassle-free.

"He led us through everything and made sure everybody was on the same page," she says. "That was really helpful."

The couple soon found out there are a number of benefits to the Union Plus Mortgage Program. They received a $500 gift card after closing which helped them to buy items they needed to settle in¹.

"We used it to buy the stuff you need to make a house look like a house," First says.

The Firsts also liked the security behind the Union Plus Mortgage Program. All Union Plus mortgages include access to the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program², 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.

The family relies on Jesse's salary to pay a lot of the bills. First says it's a relief to know they can receive assistance if something were to happen to his job.

"I tell all of the people Jesse's working with that mention buying a house that they should look into the Union Plus Mortgage Program," First says.

Caitlyn Selby and her husband picked up and left the East Coast nine years ago and headed to Hawaii on a whim, where they both got jobs at resorts on Maui. After renting for several years, the couple decided to buy a place. Selby, a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) said she looked into the Union Plus Mortgage Program after hearing about it from some of her coworkers.

"They said it was a great program, a great option and how amazing and simple it was for them while applying for a mortgage," Selby remembered.

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

Selby said that though it was stressful to purchase a home, the Wells Fargo loan officer helped them throughout the lending process.

"It's our first home, it’s a lot of money, and it’s a big decision," Selby recalled thinking. "We had so many questions. They were extremely knowledgeable, and they never made us think that the questions we asked were unnecessary."

The couple also liked the security behind the Union Plus Mortgage Program, which includes hardship assistance. 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 strike¹.

"It's a safety net if anything were to happen with your job, they really have your back," Selby said.

Both Selby and her husband are temporarily unemployed due to the impact COVID-19 is having on the tourism industry in Hawaii.

"We never thought we’d be here," Selby said. "It's nice to know in these scenarios you’re not alone – that the union wants to support."

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

Janet Washington is a woman of many talents.

When she's not working as a secretary for the Kern High School District or raising her 11-year-old daughter, she's running her small business – custom-making jewelry and designing and refurbishing clothes and accessories.

But Washington, a member of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Local 81, has bigger dreams for her future. She wants to expand her company, or work for a design firm, or maybe be a marketing director someday.

"I just know I can do anything – the only thing holding me back is not having [my college] degree," Washington says. Washington's outlook began to change last April, when she found out Union Plus was offering a free benefit for union members to earn their bachelor’s degree online.

"For years I struggled trying to find a way to complete my bachelor's," Washington recalls. "This was the breakthrough I needed."

Through an academic partnership with Central State University, a historically black university, the Union Plus Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program offers union members and their families education scholarships that cover all tuition, fees, and e-books. To be eligible, students must have already earned an associate degree or have 60 or more transferrable credits, with a 2.2 GPA or higher.

"CSU is flexible and fast paced," Washington says. "I'm able to complete my degree program from the comfort of my home, while educating my daughter. The classes are easy to follow, and there is plenty of time to complete assignments."

Washington expects to graduate in May with a business management degree. Meanwhile, she does her schoolwork before her day job or after her daughter goes to bed.

"She sees me late at night, early in the morning. I'm a motivation and I like that," Washington says. "She looks up to me and I want her to see you can do anything, no matter what."

To learn more about the Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program, visit bachelorsdegree.unionplus.org.

Johnny Montez takes great pride in his work as a Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) member.

"It's just cool to be driving on a freeway with my wife and daughter and say, hey, I built this," says Montez. "I come home after a day of work and I am tired, but those moments make it all worth it."

Two years ago, the Montez family bought a new home. Johnny's wife had discovered Union Plus early on in his union experience, so the decision to work with the Union Plus Mortgage Program was easy. Montez says the transaction itself was smooth too.

"When we made the move to buy, I had friends tell us, 'It will take months,' Montez recalls. "Not with the Union Plus Mortgage Program.""

Union members who purchase or refinance a home through the Union Plus Mortgage Program get competitive rates, hardship assistance in case of disability, layout, lockout or strike¹. As a verified union member when you finance your home with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and you mention your eligibility My Mortgage Gift^SM award after closing - $500 for buying a home, $300 for refinancing – for use at participating retailers².

Recently, the Montezes won a sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders. With their winnings, they intend to add a lush, green back yard.

"We've redone so much in this house and worked hard for it," Montez says. "This will give us the last piece of our dream and we’ll have a new yard for our kids to play in."

He continues, "The union has made being a homeowner possible and Union Plus is just another way I feel taken care of. I really recommend Union Plus to any union member trying to find ways to save money."

To learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and other Union Plus benefits, visit unionplus.org.

Eric Wolkensdorfer is a federal fire fighter at Joint Base Lewis McCord in Washington.

"I love everything about my job," Wolkensdorfer said. “I love the people I work with and that I can usually walk away happy with the fruits of my labor.”

Wolkensdorfer joined the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) when he and his family moved to Olympia, Washington in 2016. During his union onboarding process, he was introduced to Union Plus and took note of the Union Plus Mortgage Program. He ended up working with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage through the Union Plus Mortgage Program to buy his family’s new house.

"The whole process was absolutely seamless. I couldn’t believe it," Wolkensdorfer said. "Our loan officers made the home purchase very smooth."

Set against the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest, the home is an oasis for Wolkensdorfer, his wife and their two children. When the COVID-19 pandemic derailed a planned vacation, Wolkensdorfer took advantage of a staycation to repaint the entire house.

Verified union members who purchase or refinance a home through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage will be eligible to receive a $500 value when buying a home, or a $300 value when refinancing your home¹. All Union Plus mortgages include additional benefits for veterans and access to the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program, which provides interest-free loans and grants from Union Plus when members out are out of work due to a union-approved strike, lockout, involuntary unemployment, or disability².

Wolkensdorfer is an avid advocate of Union Plus.

"I have only had good experiences with Union Plus, and it's such a benefit for all union members," he said. “Plus, on the mortgage side, you know you’ll get a good broker looking out for your best interests."

To learn more about the benefits of a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage through Union Plus, please visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Sally Tobar was looking forward to retirement. Tobar, a member of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 185, had put in more than 38 years as a postal clerk and anticipated spending her well-earned free time knitting, doing macramé, and beefing up her sewing skills.

Unfortunately, Tobar's vision was thwarted when she fell and injured her back a few months before her planned retirement date. Health insurance covered some of her medical costs, but not all of them.

"It started to add up and I wasn’t working overtime, which I was used to doing," says Tobar.

When Tobar, a Union Plus Credit Cardholder¹, reached out to report an incorrect medical charge, the customer service representative told her about the Union Plus Disability Grant².

"She told me, 'We have this grant program for our union brothers and sisters in situations like this.'" Tobar adds, "I’d never bothered to look at the credit card benefits before." 

The Union Plus Disability Grant is a $1,600 - $2,700 payment available to eligible Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and who have lost at least 25 percent of their monthly income due to illness or disability during the past 12 months, among other requirements. Applicants must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three months and their card account must be in good standing.

"The person I spoke to with Union Plus was helpful and friendly," Tobar recalls. "I was very happy to receive the grant." 

Tobar retired soon after receiving her grant and is grateful it helped her cover her copays on her road to recovery.

For more information on how Union Plus can help union members in times of need, visit unionplus.org/hardship.

Security guard Carlos Santiago has worked straight through the pandemic.

"While it's had its ups and downs, I’m grateful to be moving forward," Santiago says.

Santiago, a 10-year Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 member from the Bronx, New York, is dedicated to his work and to helping other union members, often attending rallies and assisting at his local.

Nearly seven years ago, he signed up for the Union Plus email newsletter and first learned about the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

"Right then and there, I knew that I wanted to buy my own place," he says. "I called Union Plus a year and a half later and they guided me through the whole mortgage process."

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

"I tell my colleagues that it’s stressful [to buy a home] but Union Plus and Wells Fargo walk you through it and in the end it’s a home run," Santiago says.

When he heard about recent sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders, he decided to give it a shot.

"I got the call [that I won]. It was unbelievable," he recalls. "I'm going to use the money to upgrade my place — do some painting and get some things fixed."

Santiago heartily endorses Union Plus and the Union Plus Mortgage Program.

"I am Union Plus 100%," he said.

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