Member Stories

Lisa Nutter started in the purchasing and travel department at the United Steelworkers headquarters (USW) in Pittsburgh, PA six years ago. She made a career move from the corporate world because she wanted to experience the benefits that union membership offers. She loves that the union is always looking out for her and her fellow union members’ best interests. Another value that comes with union membership is the opportunity to take advantage of the Union Plus member benefits.

“I was at a local USW meeting and someone mentioned Union Plus to me,” Nutter, a USW Local 3657 member, said. “I started looking through their website. I saw discounts for theme parks and purchased tickets to Universal Studios in Florida. I then saw a page on the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, and the next thing you know I was buying a new union-made car.”

Nutter, who serves as the recording secretary in her local, used the Union Plus Auto Buying Service to purchase her new Ford Focus hatchback. Through the Union Plus website, it is easy to search for a new or used car you want within a radius of your house, and then see the dealer price for that car. Administered by TrueCar, the Union Plus Auto Buying program ensures that union members are getting the best price on the car they want.

“I found the whole program to be a very seamless process,” Nutter said.

“Union Plus gave me two dealerships to look at and one dealership contacted me right away. They had worked with Union Plus before, and I didn’t have to do any negotiating. This is the first brand new car I have ever owned; it only had four miles on it when I purchased it!” Nutter said.

The Union Plus Auto Buying Service helps union members and their families save an average of $3,279 off MSRP. It allows members to see what others paid for the same model car you want and lock in the price. Union members can also get a $100 rebate when you they buy a new union-made car and $200 on a new union-made, EPA Green car¹.

“One of the coolest things about my new Focus is that it has a sticker on it saying that it was made in a union plant; that’s very cool to look at,” Nutter added.

“Union Plus is a great thing for union members. I like to know that the benefits of being in my local union extend beyond the local. It’s great being recognized on a grander scale for being a union member," Nutter said.

¹Between 7/1/15 and 9/30/15, the average estimated savings off MSRP presented by TrueCar Certified Dealers to users of TrueCar powered websites, based on users who configured virtual vehicles and who TrueCar identified as purchasing a new vehicle of the same make and model listed on the certificate from a Certified Dealer as of 10/31/2015, was $3,279. Your actual savings may vary based on multiple factors including the vehicle you select, region, dealer, and applicable vehicle specific manufacturer incentives which are subject to change. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") is determined by the manufacturer, and may not reflect the price at which vehicles are generally sold in the dealer's trade area as not all vehicles are sold at MSRP. Each dealer sets its own pricing. Neither TrueCar nor Union Plus brokers,sells or leases motor vehicles.

TrueCar operates this information website ("Service") featuring pricing, performance, technical, and safety data available for new and used vehicles. The Service is not available in all locations.

**Guaranteed Savings not available in all states. In these states, a Target Price is shown, which is a market-based example of what you can reasonably expect to pay for your vehicle as configured. Your configured vehicle may not be available or in-stock at the Certified Dealer.

TrueCar does not broker, sell or lease motor vehicles. Each Certified Dealer sets its own pricing, and will confirm actual vehicle availability from in-stock inventory, including options and color choices.

Immigrants who come to our country in search of better opportunities have been the economic backbone of America for well over a century. In the face of a difficult job market for many immigrants, their keys to the American Dream may not be readily available.

Nowhere is this truer than with non-union jobs, which typically offer lower pay, limited benefits, and virtually no job security. In a new country with little knowledge of the labor market, these work conditions make immigrants more vulnerable to worker exploitation, sometimes with heartbreaking results.

However, immigrants in unionized jobs are much closer to reaching the American Dream than their non-union counterparts. This year’s recipients of Union Plus Scholarships have written how union membership has transformed their standard of living — everything from:

• ensuring more dignity in the workplace,
• safer work conditions, and
• rules preventing discrimination on the basis of national origin, among others.

Union Plus Scholarship Winners

Among the winners were numerous students whose family members are immigrants — many of whom triumphed over monumental hardship thanks in part to their union — and are prepared to make a meaningful impact in the world by excelling academically and pursuing degrees in preparation for career fields such as law and medicine.

Jasmine Gregory of Walnut Creek, CA

When the parents of Jasmine Gregory of Walnut Creek, CA, came to America as migrant farmworkers, labor injustices were commonplace.

“My mother felt powerless until the courageous efforts of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers movement brought needed relief,” Jasmine recalled. “After years of struggle, my mother is a state employee today, wholeheartedly supporting her union.”

Indeed, Jasmine’s educational pursuits have taken root, thanks to the stability afforded by her mother’s membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2620, and her father’s membership in the International Federation of Professional & Technical Employees (IFPTE) Local 21.

Upon graduating high school this year, she earned two prestigious national academic awards from the College Board:

• the National Merit Scholar Commendation and the
• National Hispanic Recognition Program Award.

These awards are given to the top standardized test takers and the top academic performers of Hispanic heritage, respectively. With college in her sights, Jasmine aims to study political science and ultimately earn a law degree, and "never forgetting the labor support she received since her first employment on American soil" according to Jasmine's mother. 

The Gregory family’s story is a common thread that makes up the historical patchwork of America. Each generation had hope in their sights when they knew that, if they joined a union worked hard, and earned an education, they could foster a brighter future for their successive generations.

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After the Great Recession, the educational landscape has faced difficulties of its own, most notably with the skyrocketing costs of a college education. Fortunately, that’s just one of many reasons why Union Plus was established by the AFL-CIO to provide much-needed consumer benefits to union members and retirees.

One of the many valuable programs offered by Union Plus is a unique scholarship program which has awarded more than $4 million in educational funding to union members and their families.

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Michelle Huang of Brooklyn, NY

Michelle Huang of Brooklyn, NY, whose parents emigrated from Guangzhou, China, is studying to become a pharmacist. She looks at how far she’s come along her educational journey and knows that she would have never been able to take the first steps without her father Zhantu’s membership in the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 10.

Relating the story of how her father went on strike and helped pass the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, Michelle recalls,

"My father became empowered to speak up for his rights. I am not sure how I can ever repay APWU.” For the Huang family, union membership pays off; as Michelle received a generous scholarship to make her academic dreams a reality."

Union membership, she says, “…holds such significance and importance in my family.”

Steven Manicastri of Willimantic, CT

Steven Manicastri of Willimantic, CT is a political science doctoral student whose dissertation focuses on a rank-and-file Italian trade union formed in the late 1980s. Born and raised in Italy, his working-class family immigrated to the United States in 2000.

With newly-afforded opportunities thanks to his union, opportunity and hard work, Steven ultimately graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history, political science, and Italian.

“I recognize the importance of theory as a political philosopher, but I am cognizant of the essential need to practice one’s politics on a quotidian basis,” Steven said.

“I can think of no better way to do this [and live by one’s politics] than by being an active union member, or being instrumental in the creation of a labor union in a future place of employment,” he added.

To this end, while in school, he became very active in the labor union movement. In addition to helping to pass his school’s lowest tuition increase in a decade by protesting at the 2011 United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) Walk Into Action, he currently serves as vice president of his graduate school’s Graduate Employee Union (GEU) Region 9A and serves as vice president for UAW Local 6950. Steven hopes to use his Union Plus Scholarship to help fund his dream of becoming a university instructor and introducing a new generation to the importance of the labor movement.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program

If you are a union member or your parents, spouse or children are members — and pursuing the American Dream through education — you are eligible to apply for a Union Plus Scholarship, which are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Visit UnionPlus.org/Scholarship for more information and to appy online.

In addition to the scholarship program, Union Plus provides a wide range of money-saving programs and services for union members and families, including discounts on qualified wireless plans from AT&T, the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier, savings on travel and recreation, and more. 

Angela Neal, a member of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE), AFT/AFSCME Local 300, had little trouble negotiating a fair price for a car and other kinds of consumer bargaining didn't bother her either. But when the social worker tried to lower her medical bill debt the going got rough.

Fortunately, as a union member, Neal had Union Plus in her corner, offering her just what she needed: an advocate to help her negotiate lower medical bills.

"Trying to lower the debt from medical expenses is so hard," explains Neal. "Some of the bill people can be harsh. They want to get every penny from you as soon as possible, but you can't squeeze blood from a turnip.Union Plus' medical bill negotiator helped knock off as much as 50 percent off of some of my medical bills."

Reducing medical debt can be daunting. Neal remembers how every time she saw the medical bills piled on her kitchen table, she was filled with dread, knowing that she alone was responsible for the balances and that those balances were not going to be reduced without a lot of effort.

Armed with her cell phone, a positive attitude and the stack of bills, Neal diligently contacted the billing offices of her physician and labs asking for their help in lowering her debt and coming up with a manageable payment schedule. She hung up each time feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.

Dealing with the stress of mounting bills, coping with an ongoing health condition, and working full-time to provide critical social services to families in need was a lot for Neal to handle. She isn't alone. A report by the Commonwealth Fund found that 41 percent of Americans of working age have medical bill problems or are paying off medical debt.

Neal found hope when a co-worker encouraged her to check out the Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service. When she clicked on UnionPlus.org/BillNegotiator, Neal was thrilled to see that it was easy to sign up for the free service. To qualify for help, she only needed to be an active or retired union member with at least one outstanding unreimbursed medical expense of at least $400.

"It was nice knowing that someone was working for me just because I am a union member. I didn't realize this union benefit existed, but I'm so glad it does. It put me in a much better position to pay off my medical bills," says Neal, who has been a member of KOSE Local 300 since 2010.

"It's a big help when someone is there to help you negotiate medical debt. It was a real blessing," says Neal.

It's a fact of life for most people-sooner or later you're probably going to need a lawyer. But where do you turn to get qualified, expert, affordable legal advice?

Dave Felice of Denver, Colo., and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7777 has found the answer from personal experience. "There's just no substitute for the Union Plus Legal Service."

Qualified Lawyers

Felice has used Union Plus as his go-to legal resource for a range of personal legal issues. "I've called about a traffic violation, about some financial matters, and even about a conflict with a car rental company," he says. "With Union Plus you always get to the right person, and you know your lawyer is qualified."

The fact is, most companies have lawyers on retainer, and most working families don't. That's what makes the Union Plus Legal Service such an invaluable resource. Union families can get a free 30-minute consultation with a lawyer, .

If additional legal services are required, Union Plus has negotiated an exclusive 30% discount off hourly rates and flat fees from over 2,000 law offices nationwide. Best of all, the program provides you with instant access whenever you need it, with no sign-up and no enrollment fees: if you're in a union, you have a lawyer.

"The best thing was that immediate connection we made," Felice says. "It was like talking to a coworker who understood my situation and was on my side. They listened, and got me the answers I needed fast."

Saving Money and Increasing Security

Felice has been a communications worker for 35 years. For the first 25 he was non-union, and now for the last decade he's been grateful to be a CWA member and experience the union difference. "My financial advisor would say joining the union is the best thing that's ever happened to me," he says. "It's provided more financial security and job security."

Speaking of security, another benefit of being in a union is being able to use all the programs and services offered by Union Plus. "That legal program gives me a greater sense of security from knowing I can make a phone call when I need a lawyer and get to the right person quickly and easily," Felice says. "I'm grateful that Union Plus offers such a valuable service."

As Felice has discovered, the Union Plus Legal Service is available for all types of legal issues, including family law, traffic matters, wills and estate planning, real estate, criminal and immigration law. The lawyers you speak to are carefully screened, specially selected and highly experienced, with an average of 14 years in legal practice. Union Plus lawyers are also labor-friendly-and all services are provided confidentially.

Union Plus Legal Services

If you're like most people, chances are you're going to need a lawyer one day. When you do, remember that Union Plus Legal Service has been helping union members and families for over 25 years, with over one million referrals.

Learn more and get a referral today by clicking here.

A rare form of cancer may have robbed Brigid McDonald's newborn of half her eyesight, but it did nothing to diminish her daughter's vision for a bright future.

Caeli, admitted to the University of Rochester (the college of her choice), has already done the work to get accepted, and Union Plus has helped her with one of the other hard parts: paying for it.

Union Plus Scholarships help make higher education more affordable to union members and their families. The cash awards, ranging from $500 to $4,000, are granted to recipients based on academic achievement and potential, character, leadership, social awareness, career goals and financial need. The deadline to apply for a 2017 Union Plus Scholarship is January 31, 2017.

SEIU daughter growing up with vision loss

Few students could be more deserving than Caeli Quiter, 19, daughter of McDonald, a member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 326. From an early age, Caeli proved she was a fighter. After all, she was only about eight weeks old when it was discovered that she had bilateral retinoblastoma, cancer of both eyes. It was a diagnosis that required radiation and chemotherapy -- treatment that, ultimately, claimed the vision in her left eye.

A lack of balance, as a result of her vision loss, made it difficult for Caeli to perform motor skills at the same age as her peers. However, from an early age, it was apparent that Caeli's life was not about meeting milestones; it was about surpassing them. She read books at the age of three, won community service awards in grade school and was a professional musician in high school, playing five instruments. Not only did she achieve this list of accomplishments, but she also earned stellar grades while doing so.

"Having partial vision has not set me back; it has only pushed me forward," said Caeli.

College debt...even with scholarships 

Thanks to her good grades and leadership skills, Caeli received a full academic scholarship to the University of Rochester, where she plans to earn a degree in biomedical engineering. While the financial assistance from the school is significant, Caeli's family still wrestles with the cost of room and board, books and other necessary expenses.

"Even with Caeli's scholarship, we still need to pay about $16,000 a year," explains Brigid, a single mom who supervises counselors at a New York State corrections facility. "We do everything we can to pay as much as we can, but it's difficult. Caeli works and saves every penny she can. But no matter what, it's hard to avoid debt."

Fortunately, Brigid discovered the Union Plus Scholarship through an email from Union Plus.

College help for union families

Union Plus recognizes that higher education is important to working families and a key to improved financial security. That's why Union Plus provides $150,000 in scholarships annually to retired or active members who belong to a union participating in any of the Union Plus programs. Spouses and dependent children (as defined by the IRS) are also eligible. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, or click here to learn more about the Union Plus Scholarship >>

For our 30th anniversary, we're rewarding union members and Union Plus Credit Cardholders* with the chance to make their dreams come true in our American Dream Sweepstakes. Over $100,000 in prizes will be given away, and one lucky winner will win $30,000.

You could be the next winner, but you only have a few weeks left to enter!

Enter now through 12/31/16 to win	Here's how it works:
$500 gift cards to 12 winners every week $30,000 Grand Prize to 1 winner	Visit UnionPlusSweeps.com and provide a valid email address.
	Fill out a union-time registration form.
	Enter the sweepstakes up to 30 times per week.

 

Click here to learn more!

 

Ten union members have already received their $500 gift card prize! We believe unions are the cornerstone of our country—the reason the American dream can become a reality—so we asked these winners to describe the American Dream, and to tell us how unions help Americans achieve that dream. Read their responses below!

Andrew Cuschieri, a United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) member from Taylor, MI, and a $500 gift card winner.

How he defines the American Dream:

“The American Dream comes down to a lot of hard work, never giving up, and doing what you love. It’s pursuing your passion and pushing yourself to the next level,” he said.

How he believes unions help achieve that goal:

“Unions protect members so they’re not taken advantage of and are able to advance fairly. When I think of the union, I think of someone that has your back in case of any kind of discrimination or unjust behavior,” he said.

Adelia Marron won a $500 gift card. She’s from Stonington, IL, is the wife of a Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 103G member. Her husband was also formerly a United Steelworkers (USW) member.

How she defines the American Dream:

“It’s about having good jobs you can depend on and making a decent wage. We feel it’s also tied to the ability to buy a house and put enough money away to retire,” she said.

Both Adelia and her husband, Jim, have carried a Union Plus Credit Card since 1988 and are fans of the program because of the competitive rates and the union-backing.

Ned Overton, an American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) member from Lake Grove, NY, and a $500 gift card winner.

How he defines the American Dream:

“The American Dream is where everyone has a fair chance in life and is given equal opportunities to be successful. You have a fair shot of having a good quality of life where you’re not constantly working where it’s paycheck-to-paycheck,” he said.

How he believes unions help achieve that goal:

“I have good benefits and a good retirement plan because of my union. Having good health, dental, and vision plans is important…. My union fought for me and my colleagues to get good contracts. If you’re a good worker and you work hard, you should receive good benefits and raises,” he said.

Theresa Heathington, a retired American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3251 member and a $500 gift card winner.

How she defines the American Dream:

“The American Dream for me is that my family is able to live the life we want. The union afforded us the luxury of having benefits, good health care, insurance, and job stability. That’s not the way it is for a lot of people, you know. It’s also about retiring at an early age so I can still enjoy my life,” she said.

A Union Plus Credit Card holder for the past decade, Heathington only has good things to say about the program:

“I thought I should get a credit card through Union Plus since they care about people in the union. I’ve also been extremely satisfied with the customer service I’ve received from Capital One,” she said.

Ray McKenzie, an International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 12 member from Wheeling, WV, and a $500 gift card winner.

How he believes unions help others achieve the American Dream:

“Labor unions in this country provide people with better wages and jobs. They provide fair group representation that is needed. To me, that’s what the American Dream is all about,” he said.

Eric Lamb, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 member from Fredonia, NY, and a $500 gift card winner.

How he defines the American Dream, and how he believes unions help achieve that goal:

“The American Dream comes down to financial security and good health. And the union provides good healthcare, retirement pensions, as well as fair wages and good working conditions. It all ties together,” he said.

Robert Hessler, a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1000 member and a $500 gift card winner.

How he defines the American Dream:

“I’m fortunate enough to have a job with the union backing me. The American Dream is making sure to get what you want out of life. It’s all about getting along with everyone and spending time with your family and friends,” he said.

How he believes unions help achieve that goal:

“Union members are from all different walks of life and they all work together for the same cause and a good life. Because of unions, members receive better pay, which they deserve,” he said.

Taneka Heard, a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1000 member and a $500 gift card winner.

How she defines the American Dream, and how she believes unions help achieve that goal:

“Personally, I believe the American Dream means being able to continue to work with the union backing me up. It’s about flourishing and providing for my family. I see difficulties, like possible layoffs, that my family members experience who don’t have a union, and I’m glad to have someone on my side fighting for me,” she said.

David Harlow, a retired International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1857 member and a $500 gift card winner.

How he defines the American Dream:

“I think it means being able to have a good standard level of living where you can afford to eat and enjoy life’s pleasures, all without having to worry about coming up short at the end of the month with your finances. Unions provide fair benefits and wages, so they really contribute to the American Dream,” he said.

What he recalls the union doing for him:

“We truly needed a strong union to negotiate our contracts. When I first started working with the fire department, I learned that some of my guys were living on food stamps even though they were making a full salary as fire fighters,” he said. “It was through a good union that we negotiated fair raises and other key benefits and factors in making the job overall better,” he said.

Donna Hansen, a Civil Service Employees Association/American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (CSEA/AFSCME) Local 0855 member and a $500 gift card winner.

How she believes unions help achieve that goal:

“Being with a union gives you job security. It enables you to provide for your family without worrying. Also, the union makes sure all of its members make a decent salary. To me, all of those things represent the American Dream,” she said.

How she plans to use the money:

“Winning the $500 is going to make my Christmas a lot better! I’m going to put the money toward presents this year. It will definitely help me purchase nicer gifts that I may not have financially been able to get before,” she said.

To learn more about the Union Plus American Dream Sweepstakes and to enter, visit UnionPlusSweeps.com before December 31, 2016.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts 10/10/16 at 12:00 AM ET and ends 12/31/16 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open only to eligible legal residents of the United States, D.C., U.S. territories and military bases, who are Union Plus Credit Cardholders or current/retired eligible union members as of 9/28/16 and 18 years and older. Click here for Official Rules and complete details, including entry instructions, entry periods, odds of winning, prize information, eligible unions, restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Capital One, N.A. 1680 Capital One Drive, McLean, VA 22102.

*Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A., pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Credit approval required. Terms and conditions apply. The Mastercard Brand Mark is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

 

Moving has to be among the most stressful of life events — from the house hunting and home buying process to the packing (some purging) and physical relocation of your worldly possessions. There are change-of-address notices to send out, and often new jobs and new schools take a social, even psychological, toll.

When 20-year BRS-member, Howard Forte, and his wife first started shopping around for a different address several months back, it was with great apprehension. Real-estate agents weren’t high on their list of favorite people.

“We’ve owned before — this was our second time purchasing a home,” said Forte. “We’ve just always had a difficult time with real estate in general.”

His expectations already abysmally low, Forte found a local real estate agent through the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards Program, powered by SIRVA.

“Rosemarie Cazzorla and her associate agent at Century 21 have been absolutely amazing,” said Forte. “She helped us purchase our home in North Bellmore, N.Y. We just moved in a few days ago and she’s still helping us with stuff now. They’re the most amazing agents we’ve ever worked with.”

The Union Plus Real Estate Rewards Program features:

• Union members receive $50 for every $10,000 in home value after closing when they use a Real Estate Rewards agent to buy or sell a home,
• Over 4,600 agents participate in the program throughout the U.S. which means a local agent is easy to find,
• And every SIRVA agent is pre-screened as the best, based upon performance, service and coverage around you.

A long-time signalman for the Long Island Railroad, Forte is looking at a daily commute of about 30 minutes from North Bellmore into the city, where his wife also works. While the couple and their three children are still getting settled, they’re already enjoying their new home — though the kids would prefer it came with a dog! “Maybe in a few years,” said Forte.

Union Plus is here to help our fellow union members navigate any residential move. Check out our tips and offers and make your move a lot less stressful and expensive.

Find a real estate agent and save some money. By leveraging our relationship with SIRVA –one of the world’s largest moving and relocation companies – and their network of preferred real estate agents, SIRVA Home Benefits is able to connect you with real estate agents that are trusted by FORTUNE® 1000 companies and offer you cash back after closing.*

Learn more or Call 800-284-9756

When you search for a mortgage, don't forget to consider the Union Plus Mortgage program. The Union Plus Mortgage program can help you purchase a home while also receiving special benefits by virtue of your union membership.

One year into home ownership, Carrie Comer already knows the countless benefits to no longer renting. A longtime apartment-dweller, she bought her first home last year.

“It’s about security, peace of mind, safety, confidence,” said Comer, a member of AFT Local 1 in Chicago, Ill. “I have a son; for him, it’s stability. Home ownership means a lot.”

The sweetness of the security and stability just got a little sweeter for Comer, who was a second-place winner in the Union Plus Home Sweet Home contest.

Homeowners with a Union Plus Mortgage were eligible to win either a first-place prize of two monthly mortgage payments or a second-place prize of one monthly mortgage payment (up to $1500 each). Contestants simply needed to upload a photo of their homes and submit an essay explaining what home ownership means to them.

“I was on the Union Plus website looking for car rental discounts and just came about it, so I decided to apply,” Comer said. “The process was simple as far as uploading the picture and the statement was genuine about what being a homeowner means. It made it pretty easy.”
 
Perfect timing

Comer, who teaches preschool special education, said the timing of the prize money was perfect.

“I’m a teacher, so we don’t get paid in the summer,” she said. “They allowed me to choose the month, but June was the perfect month.”

One payment may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but Comer said it goes a long way.

“It makes a huge difference, regardless of whether I was working in the summer or not,” she said. “There’s always something that can be done with extra money. I’m a homeowner now, so I’m finding projects; that’s what I’m going to put it toward. Everything helps in this economy.”
 
More security, more freedom

Comer was introduced to the Union Plus Mortgage program through her mortgage officer, who explained the program to her.

“The process of obtaining it was simple as far as getting someone to sign the paperwork verifying that I am a union member,” she said. “Moving forward, there wasn’t anything that hindered my ability to obtain it.”

That meant freedom from apartment living.

“I had some bad experiences with renting,” Comer said. “You don’t control who’s in your building; you can get a bad tenant below or above you. And I just didn’t feel safe anymore. There are so many more benefits to home ownership as opposed to renting.”

Moreover, the Union Plus Mortgage program meant additional peace of mind.

”My interest rate won’t change; it’s a fixed rate,” said Comer.
 
The benefits of a union mortgage program

The Union Plus Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, has provided $43.6 billion in mortgages to help more than 260,000 union members and their families buy or refinance a home. It is packed with special benefits tailored to meet the needs of active or retired union members, as well as their parents and children, who want to buy or refinance a home. 

Some of the other benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage program include:

• Hardship Assistance – Union Plus Mortgage Assistance¹ helps members and their families who are unemployed, recently disabled, on strike, or locked out make their mortgage payments with interest-free loans and grants. Mortgage Assistance has provided more than $11 million to help members keep their loans current and stay in their homes.
• Award Card – Union members and their families may receive a Wells Fargo My Mortgage GiftSM award card after closing on a purchase or refinance loan²; $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing a home.

Click here to learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program >>

And if you have a home to buy or sell, look into Union Plus Real Estate Services, which provides discounts to union families, over 4,600 experienced, pre-screened agents nationwide, and even offers a cash-back rebate program, available in most states.
Your union and Union Plus are looking out for you. 

 

When much of your job requires you to live from a suitcase, time spent at home is cherished. That was certainly the case when Paul Moore traveled the world as a stage manager and scenic artist for theater, television, and movies for some 17 years.
    
But now Moore, Eastern Executive Director of the Motion Pictures Editors Guild, International Association of Theatrical, Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 700, doesn't travel as much and home is an inviting, rustic, cabin-inspired cedar getaway, about 90 miles from the heart of New York City in the town of Forestburg. 

For any homeowner, mortgage payments, home association fees and property assessments are monthly reminders that your dream home comes at a price. After refinancing three times previously, Moore didn't think it was worth the hassle of massive paperwork to try to whittle away at his mortgage payment. Fortunately, a phone call from the Union Plus Mortgage Program, convinced him to give it a shot. 

"I didn't want the headache of refinancing. I travel a lot and when I'm home, I want to enjoy my time," says Moore. "But I'm glad I went through with it. It was a very good, streamlined process. The information was turned around quickly and the savings were significant."

Situated in a community that boasts 1,100 acres of protected woodlands, Moore's home provides a quiet refuge from bustling city life. He and his wife Cassandra, a former ballerina who is now an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) member and high school dance teacher, have lived in the home for 12 years. 

The Union Plus Mortgage makes buying or refinancing a home easy and affordable with competitive pricing and special protections. Moore's refinance through Union Plus Mortgage Program saved him about $350 per month. 

Moore believes in the core values of the labor movement and as a union leader, he is proud of the value of union membership. "I'm proud to work for the men and women of Local 700. At the bargaining table, the union fights to make sure that wages and working conditions are good and that every creative member has a voice on the job," Moore says. " But the commitment to union members doesn't stop at the bargaining table -- the discounts offered by Union Plus to union members save money on everything from home refinancing to vacations to health care services."

Union Plus Mortgage offers union members and their families a unique mortgage assistance program. Union Plus Mortgage Assistance offers safety-net protections to help union members who might have trouble making their mortgage payments due to an unexpected loss of income due to disability, strike, lockout or layoff. 
 

Darrell Roybal of Lakewood, CO, is an elevator mechanic member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 25. When Roybal decided to buy his first house, he chose the Union Plus Mortgage Program with its unique benefits exclusive for union families.

"Union Plus offered interest-free assistance in case I'm injured on the job or in the event of a strike Cutor lockout," Darrell says.

Roybal says that the service that he experienced made the process of buying his first home less intimidating. "It was a scary decision, just thinking of all the closing costs and everything you need to buy your first home," he says. "Union Plus made it easy." 

Even after 15 years in IUEC and 20 years as a union man, Roybal says he's still discovering all the benefits of going union. "This was my first experience with Union Plus," he says. "But once we got a Union Plus mortgage, I immediately went online to learn about other Union Plus programs. I discovered we could get a 15% discount on wireless service from AT&T that's been a big savings. And now I'm looking into applying for Union Plus scholarships for the kids." 

Roybal and his family are definitely making themselves at home in the new place. "My children are so happy to have a place of their own and room to play," he says. "We're really enjoying having a house with a yard." 

And he's making sure his union brothers know about the benefits of the Union Plus Mortgage Program. "I've told a bunch of guys at work," he says. "If you're considering buying a house, you've got to look into Union Plus." 

Considering the purchase or refinance of a home? The Union Plus Mortgage Program offers a full-range of mortgage products.