Member Stories

Peg Bissell of Fresno, California has been a loyal Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9408 member since 1977. She recently retired from her job at AT&T but remains active in her union.

Bissell comes from a union family: her mother also retired from AT&T, in 1982, after 38 years with what was then the Pacific Phone and Telegraph Company.

"We’ve always been a CWA union family and a Union Plus family," Bissell says proudly.

Over the years, Bissell has bought or refinanced three homes through the Union Plus Mortgage Program: she rents out the house next door to a family member and her elderly father-in-law moved into the house behind hers.

"We always turned to Union Plus when we needed home financing," Bissell says of her choice of mortgage provider.

Her mortgages are financed by Wells Fargo, which partners with Union Plus to provide mortgages with special benefits for union members. Bissell notes that the included Mortgage Assistance Program, which provides interest-free loans and grants to help members make payments when they are out of work, is “the number one reason” she picked a Union Plus mortgage each time.¹

"It was very comforting to know that the interest rates were competitive," Bissell says. "It was also a comfort to know that if I went out on strike, I wouldn’t have to worry about the mortgage payment."

Bissell feels strongly that the Union Plus Mortgage Program and Union Plus services generally are a valuable benefit of her CWA membership.

"I think every member should consider a Union Plus mortgage," she says. "I’m always referring people to Union Plus for just about anything."

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
UNION PLUS MORTGAGE PROGRAM 

Dan Cerveny, a keyboardist, joined the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) just in time to learn firsthand how the union helps its members. Early in his career, he found himself with a chance to join up with a polka band in Pennsylvania.

"The only way I could play was if I joined the union," he recalls. "The proprietor who hired us ended up stiffing the entire band, and our union got us paid."

Today, Cerveny is the Secretary Treasurer of AFM Local 70-558 in Omaha, Nebraska.

"It’s been a fantastic 20 years," says Cerveny. "I so believe in this union and what it can do for musicians."

Cerveny is also a big proponent of the Union Plus Credit Card¹. He’s been carrying it since the late 1990s, loves the 1.5% cash back rewards he gets with every purchase.

"You name it, and I use the Union Plus Credit Card to pay for it and then I pay it off each month," he says. "I also use it to spoil my six grandkids.'"

The Union Plus Credit Card program is available to dues-paying labor union members of participating unions and retired union members, as well as eligible family members.

"The Union Plus service is incredibly efficient and attentive," notes Cerveny. "They help me sort through my account to resolve any issues." 

Cerveny uses Union Plus programs and the Union Plus Credit Card heavily in his recruiting efforts for AFM.

"The more they access Union Plus benefits, the more they can save in daily life while having a better life," he says. "Isn’t that what a union is all about?"

The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices. Find the union credit card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.

By the time Hurricane Florence made landfall in September 2018, Paul Trotman’s wife and son had safely evacuated their coastal home in Wilmington, North Carolina. Trotman stayed behind because he works for the U.S. Postal Service, which powers on no matter the weather.  

As a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 464, Trotman loves the benefits, salary and community engagement he experiences while delivering the mail. He appreciates that his union has his back.  

Florence’s record rainfall totals proved devastating to Wilmington. In all, Florence caused 53 deaths and more than $24 billion in damage throughout the Carolinas. 

“I woke up to howling winds and debris slamming into our home,” Trotman describes. “I did not have power for five days and the rain lasted for another week.”

The Trotmans experienced damage across their entire property. 

Because he and his wife are Union Plus Credit Cardholders¹, Trotman found out about the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant², which helps eligible cardholders facing financial hardship due to a natural disaster. The Disaster Relief Grant is $500 and does not have to be repaid*. Eligible members must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three consecutive months and their account must be in good standing.

“We were so glad to find out about the Disaster Relief Grant,” says Trotman. “Our representative from Union Plus even followed up to let us know it was mailed.” 

The family applied their grant toward restocking their food supply, paying household bills and covering extra storm expenses and lost wages.  

“Union Plus truly cares about union members,” Trotman notes. “With Hurricane Florence, it was such a blessing having the help.”

Learn more about the Union Plus Disaster Relief Program,
please visit unionplus.org/disaster.

After a knee surgery last year, longtime New York City Transit Authority employee Paul Wynn couldn’t keep working at his job cleaning subway stations. Wynn, a member of Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, knew finances would be tight without his regular paycheck.

However, he caught a lucky break while he was browsing the Union Plus website soon after. Wynn learned he could be eligible for the Union Plus Disability Grant¹ because he is a Union Plus Credit Cardholder². Sure enough, he qualified for assistance.

“It wasn’t something I was specifically looking for,” Wynn recounts. “The grant helped me maintain my expenses while I was out of work.” 

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. 

“It was a relatively easy and straight-forward process,” recalls Wynn of applying for the grant. “It only took about a month to receive the money.”

He now tells fellow TWU members about the various grant programs and rebates offered to Union Plus Credit Cardholders and encourages them to explore the website, as he did.

“You may be surprised what you find,” he notes.

“After all these years, working the job I worked, it takes a toll on you and your body,” Wynn reflects. “Little things like the Union Plus Disability Grant are really helpful.”

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

Retired United Steelworkers (USW) District 2 member Jim Blank served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964, and was based in Frankfurt, Germany.

“It was a good responsibility,” recalls Blank, who lives in his hometown of Munising, Michigan, a small town in the state’s Upper Peninsula. “It was satisfying serving my country.”

Upon honorable discharge, Blank moved to Lansing, Michigan to work on the assembly line at a motor wheel factory. However, Blank soon wanted to move back home, so he took a position with the Kimberly-Clark paper mill in Munising. 

“It was a great job over the years,” says Blank. “We had great benefits. The USW did a great job for us. After 30 years, I decided to retire.”

Blank didn’t learn about Union Plus until his daughter asked for his help in getting a mortgage: she wanted to use his USW membership to apply for a Union Plus Mortgage through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

“The representative at Wells Fargo saw that I was a retired union member and a veteran and suggested that I apply for the Union Plus Mortgage Veteran’s Grant¹.,” remembers Blank. “Sure enough, I got a check in the mail.”

If you have served in the military and are an active or retired member of a union and you have financed your primary residence through the Union Plus Mortgage Program, you may qualify for the Veteran’s Grant. It provides a one-time grant of up to $1,000 to offset the cost of the home. 

“I can’t believe I learned about Union Plus so late,” says Blank. “If you’re a veteran, you should definitely look into the Veteran’s Grant.” 

To learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and the Veteran’s Grant, please visit unionplus.org/mortgage.

Scott Abfalter has worked in the hospitality industry and been a member of UNITE HERE Local 5 in Honolulu, Hawaii, for 18 years. He has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder¹ for nearly nine years.

When Abfalter walked out on strike last fall with thousands of other UNITE HERE members, he was able to take advantage of a unique benefit of being a Union Plus Credit Cardholder—hardship assistance grants for eligible members². 

The Union Plus Strike Grant is a $300 payment available to Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been on union-sanctioned strike or lockout for a minimum of 30 consecutive days within the 12 months prior to application submission. Eligible members must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three consecutive months and their account must be in good standing.

Abfalter learned of the Union Plus Strike Grant through information included in his monthly credit card statement. 

“It was a blessing to even see it,” Abfalter says. “I submitted the necessary paperwork, and I fit all the requirements.”

He recalls, “Applying for the strike grant was a simple process. The check arrived during the holiday season, and that was such a blessing.”

The timing could not have been better, according to Abfalter.

“It really helped my family stay afloat,” he says. “The union fund was depleted. It was the right time for this family to have received the Union Plus Strike Grant.”

Abfalter continues, “Some of my fellow UNITE HERE members are not Union Plus Credit Cardholders. Hopefully, they’ll reconsider because of my experience. It is a strong card.”

The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices. Find the union credit card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.

Gary Franklin is a United Automobile Workers (UAW) member who worked for a major U.S. automaker in Detroit for 12 years. He liked his job building transmissions before health problems sidelined him.

Recently, Franklin developed some health issues and realized he could not continue his job without some serious medical attention. 

“I was having trouble sleeping at night,” he recalls. “I was out of work for a while.”

Thanks to his union membership, Franklin has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder¹ for many years. When he had to take indefinite time off from his job, he called the credit card’s customer service line and was told that he might be eligible for the Union Plus Job Loss Grant². 

The Union Plus Job Loss Grant helps eligible union members who carry the Union Plus Credit Card by providing them with $300 to help cover bills and living expenses while they’re out of work.

“It was really easy to fill out the application,” remembers Franklin. “I really was able to sleep better.”

Franklin used his Job Loss Grant to cover bills. 

“The Job Loss Grant is good to have if you meet the [eligibility] requirements,” says Franklin. “I absolutely recommend getting the Union Plus Credit Card.”

“Union Plus—they try to help you out, you know?” Franklin continues. “They try to see that you can get your bills paid.”

To learn more about the Union Plus Credit Card and its benefits, visit theunioncard.com. 
 

“I was put on disability, but after a while you only get about 50 percent of your normal wages,” she recounts. “It was important to me to cover general expenses and keep my credit in good standing.”

Van Horn, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder¹ for more than five years. She was browsing the Union Plus website when she noticed a testimonial for the Disability Grant².

“After about two weeks I finally decided to apply, thinking, ‘We’re going to see if this works,’” she says.

Van Horn ended up qualifying for a $1,600 disability grant.

“I was really surprised when I got a call saying I was approved,” she recalls. “I was happy and very grateful.”

The Union Plus Disability Grant is available to Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and lost at least 25 percent of their monthly income due to illness or disability during the past 12 months. Applicants must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three months and be in good standing. 

“I stress a lot about finances, and this helped me so much,” Van Horn says. “Being on disability and unable to work, you worry about a lot of things. I feel like Union Plus didn’t forget me.”

She continues, “I like being a Union Plus Credit Cardholder. It’s nice to know there is a company like Union Plus that looks out for AFSCME members.”

The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices that all offer hardship help benefits. Find the union credit card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.
 

LaVerne Washington, executive board member and steward of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 101 in San Jose, California is on her way to retiring credit card debt free. 

Washington has been an AFSCME member for 18 years. As she started planning for retirement from her job as a paralegal, she researched ways to reduce her bills and high interest credit card debt. She remembered that Union Plus Credit Counseling is one of the benefits available to her through AFSCME Advantage. 

“As an AFSCME member, you have benefits that others do not,” Washington notes.  

She took advantage of a free consumer credit counseling session through Union Plus’s program partner, the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), and then she enrolled in a customized debt management plan. 

After 12 months of successful participation in the program, Washington was eligible to receive a $360 Union Plus Debt Management Plan (DMP) grant to reimburse the monthly MMI program fees. 

“[Applying for the grant] was actually a very easy process and it turned out to be a great experience,” says Washington. “Within less than a month, I got the check.” 

She is a year and a half into her four-year plan to eliminate credit card debt. Then she can spend retirement without worry, enjoying time with friends and family. 

“I would definitely recommend this program to other union members,” Washington says. “[Union Plus] recognizes we are working people and they provide us with really great benefits to help out in our everyday living and with our expenses.”

To learn more about the Union Plus benefits and discounts available for union members, visit unionplus.org. 

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy, also known as “Superstorm Sandy”, battered the east coast of the United States and caused billions of dollars in damage. 

“We had never seen anything like it,” says Shileen Shaw, recalling the damage her East Orange, NJ, home suffered at the time.

Shaw’s home lost electricity for weeks and her roof endured severe damage. Luckily, she was able to turn to her union for help. 

Shaw has been a member of Local 2298 (Council 63) of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for more than 20 years. She currently works at a branch of the Newark Public Library. She has also been a proud Union Plus Credit Cardholder¹ since 2007, which came in handy when she was seeking financial relief in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Through a quick phone call, Shaw found out she was eligible for the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant—a $500 cash grant that does not have to be repaid.

“I applied for the grant and I got the check within days,” Shaw recounts.

The Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant² provides financial assistance to eligible Union Plus Credit Cardholders facing hardship following a natural disaster. To be considered for a Disaster Relief Grant, Credit Cardholders must have had their card for at least three months.

“The grant came at the right time. I just thank Union Plus for that,” she says. “When you don't have anything, and the electricity is still out, $500 is a lot.”

For more information about getting access to emergency financial resources, visit unionplus.org/hardship.