Member Stories

Lisa Pedersen, of Revere, Mass., is trailblazer in her field. She says she was "the first girl in [her] area" when she started as a gas leak investigator and repair person for the National Grid.

"I've been with the same company and the United Steelworkers for 33 years," Pedersen, a member of USW Local 120124 says.

When her workforce was tested by a seven-month long work stoppage recently, Pedersen counted herself lucky to have a powerful tool on her side: her Union Plus mortgage.

Pedersen and her husband refinanced their house around 2005 with the Union Plus Mortgage Program. A major draw was the payment assistance program.

"I heard about the Mortgage Assistance Program, which helps make payments when you're out of work," Pedersen recalls. "I had seen the difficulties for other people during a prior work stoppage and heard about the Union Plus strike benefits."

The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and grants to help union members make mortgage payments when they're disabled, unemployed, furloughed, locked out or on strike. Eligible members must have had a Union Plus mortgage for at least a year.

A Mortgage Assistance strike grant ended up covering Pedersen's mortgage during three critical months in the winter, when her husband wasn't working his seasonal job as a lobsterman.

"I'm blown away by the Mortgage Assistance Program," Pedersen says. "I want people to understand how much you gave to us. I'm so grateful."

She considers the Union Plus Mortgage Program to be a unique asset of her union membership.

"Having this program available is invaluable. If there's something like that offered to you, you have to have it," Pedersen emphasizes.

Learn MORE ABOUT
UNION PLUS MORTGAGE PROGRAM

Derek Gusoskey has worked in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard since 2013 as a member of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB). He's a lead steward of Local 290, specifically Shop 26, the Welders.

"I am a member of the U.S. Department of Defense," Gusoskey says. "We work on nuclear submarines and nuclear aircraft carriers."

Gusoskey found professional and financial stability through his union after suffering financial setbacks from a bad real estate investment and the 2008 market crash.

"My wife and I hit rough patches along the way," he recalls. "Then we found our current home in 2016."

Gusoskey and his wife decided to refinance their home this year with the Union Plus Mortgage Company. Though he went into the refi process with low expectations, Gusoskey now says he "can't speak highly enough" of the Union Plus Mortgage Company team.

"I'd worked to repair my credit," he notes. "I was skeptical because I've been burned so many times before."

He continues, "Union Plus went above and beyond and really takes you under their wing. There's no catch—it’s just a perk of being a union member."

Gusoskey also has high praise for the refinance process overall.

"Everything happened on or before the timeline they gave me. It was all really great."

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.

"I go around telling everyone about Union Plus every day I can," Gusoskey says.

To learn more about Union Plus Mortgage Company, call 855 UNION 27 (855-864-6627) or visit unionplusmortgage.com.

Leslie Sanford has lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania her whole life and has been a Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) member for much of that time. She is a billing supervisor at a wastewater treatment facility where she's worked for the last 21 years.

Sanford bought her current home in 2008 and refinanced it a couple years ago. Both times, she turned to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, which works with Union Plus to provide special benefits for union members.

"My Wells loan officer told me I would qualify for a gift card after closing," Sanford recalls of her 2017 refinance. "I remember I got a $300 gift card thanks to being a union member."

When union members purchase or refinance a home with Wells Fargo through the Union Plus Mortgage Program, they get $300 award for refinancing and $500 award for home purchases.¹ Additional benefits for veterans are available from Union Plus.

"It was excellent," Sanford says of her experience with the Union Plus Mortgage Program. "I had no issues whatsoever. They were very diligent with any questions that I had and they would get back to me within a timely manner. Things ran very smoothly."

Sanford entered last year's Union Plus Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes for Union Plus mortgage holders on a whim.

"You can’t win anything if you don't try," she says.

To her surprise, Sanford was chosen as one of five winners and got a check for $3,000.

Instead of using her prize money for holiday splurges, Sanford re-invested it in her home.

"I really appreciated the opportunity to be able to enter the sweepstakes, and of course, win," Sanford says. "I thought it was wonderful, especially since I'm a single mom. I was pouring all this money and time and effort into getting my daughter through college and now I can focus back on the things I need to do around the house."

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
UNION PLUS MORTGAGE PROGRAM 

James White has been a member of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) his entire career. He’s been the SMART Director of Organizing for the past 12 years and has worked for the International for two decades.

White has also been a loyal longtime customer of AT&T. Union Plus offers union members and retirees exclusive discounts and benefits with AT&T through the Union Plus Wireless Program.

"We’ve been with AT&T for a long time," White says. "We stayed with them when they became union and then the union discount was an added plus."

When White and other union members choose AT&T, they support more than 150,000 union members at the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier. With the Union Plus Wireless Program, union members and retirees receive 15% monthly service charge discounts on qualified wireless plans¹ and 20% discounts on select phone accessories.²

As Director of Organizing for SMART, White spends a lot of time on the road meeting with workers. He urges SMART members to take advantage of Union Plus benefits like the Union Plus Wireless Program.

White also encourages members to download the Union Plus Deals app on their smart phones. The app gives union members access to thousands of discounts on everything from pizza and movie tickets to car rentals and local attractions.

"You go out to eat once or twice a month, or you go to the movies, you use the Union Plus app and see what discounts they have," White says. "It makes it that much easier to save a few bucks."

To learn more about wireless discounts for union members, visit unionplus.org/att.

To explore Union Plus everyday discounts, visit unionplus.org/entertainment and follow the instructions to register for discounts with Abenity.

Tim Samsel shares a phone plan with his wife and two sons: that means a lot of electronics in his house. So when Samsel's union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), emailed its members about AT&T wireless plan discounts through the Union Plus Wireless Program, Samsel and his wife were eager to check it out.

"We went into the local AT&T store to find out and see if we could get a better deal on our family phone plan," Samsel recalls. "Sure enough, it saved us money."

When the AT&T staff realized he was a NATCA member, they applied the Union Plus Wireless Program discount to the Samsels' existing AT&T phone plan.

When Samsel and other union members choose AT&T, they support more than 150,000 union members at the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier. With the Union Plus Wireless Program, union members and retirees receive a 15% monthly service charge discount on qualified wireless plans¹ and a 20% discount on select phone accessories.²

The Samsels also use the Union Plus Deals mobile phone app, which members can use to get discounts on everything from pizza and movie tickets to car rentals and local attractions.

"Our family is making a more conscious effort to see if there are better deals available for union families through the app," Samsel says.

Samsel recently retired after a long career as an air traffic controller — more than 28 years. He worked with a lot of younger men and women who are new to NATCA and he made it a point to tell them about the benefits offered through Union Plus.

"The younger workforce doesn’t realize the discounts are even there," Samsel says. "Myself and the other guys make sure they know to look for discounts through the union."

To learn more about wireless discounts for union members, visit unionplus.org/att.

To explore Union Plus everyday discounts, visit unionplus.org/entertainment and follow the instructions to register for discounts with Abenity and start saving.

Dave Guy wasn't thinking about buying a new car. His 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe had some miles on it but it still ran, and it was a good car for where he lives — 8,000 feet up in the mountains of Southwest Colorado.

Guy is a member of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 472 based in California. He's a semi-retired licensed professional counselor and hypnotherapist, and he’s a pastoral counselor at his church.

When he received an email from Union Plus encouraging members to buy union-made cars, he started to re-assess his Tahoe.

Guy contacted the Union Plus Auto Buying Service to see if there were any dealerships nearby that offered the union discount. A friend who works at a nearby Ford dealership encouraged him to come in and sit in a new Ford Expedition. Guy's wife Jenny proclaimed it "a sweet ride," and well, today Guy is the proud owner of a new Ford Expedition.

The Union Plus Auto Buying Service, administered by TrueCar, a leading price comparison service, helps union members and their families find the right new or used car or truck at a great price and offers additional savings and benefits. With the Auto Buying Service, union members save an average of $3,402 off MSRP* on new cars. And, union members receive a $100 rebate directly from Union Plus if they purchase a union-made car through TrueCar.

"Union Plus could have just said, 'We are union, so buy union' or, 'Thanks for supporting unions.' But they said, 'For supporting unions, we'll give you a rebate of $100,'" Guy says.

Overall, buying a new car with the support of Union Plus "was a grand experience," Guy says.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
UNION PLUS AUTO BUYING SERVICE 

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.

Guaren Long of Phelan, California has been a member of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 278 for the last four years. She has wanted to go back to school herself for the last 25 years to get the “rounded college education” she felt she missed.
 
As an instructional associate at an elementary school, Long helps kids that struggle with reading.

She says, “I have a passion for understanding people and how they function and encouraging them.”

When Long saw an email from Union Plus about its Free College program, she said, “at first it looked too good to be true.”  

She decided to start taking classes towards a general studies associate degree immediately.

“I thought, ‘okay I have time, and it won’t cost me anything, how do I not step through this door?’” Long reasoned. 

The Union Plus Free College Program partners with AFSCME and Eastern Gateway Community College to offer online courses and degree programs with no out-of-pocket cost to active or retired union members and their eligible family members, including spouses, domestic partners, children, financial dependents and grandchildren.

Long scales her course load up and down each semester depending on her schedule.

“Taking classes online is definitely convenient,” she says. “Within the timeframe from deadline to deadline I have amazing flexibility.”

She also loves “the personal satisfaction and growth” she gets from the program. 

“The flexibility affords me the chance to face some of these fears that I’ve had or learn things that I’ve wanted to learn for a long time,” Long says. 

With only five classes left to go, Long says she would recommend the Union Plus Free College Program to others “in a heartbeat.”

To learn more about the Union Plus Free College Program, visit unionplusfreecollege.org.