Member Stories

A veteran of navigating the healthcare system with her late mother and a late friend let her know that she needed to take control quickly. With considerable persistence, her fears were confirmed. She was battling acute myeloid leukemia.

The retired American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1974 member immediately mobilized to do battle. Her level of proactivity wasn’t new — as a union member, she served on the AFT board for her local and lobbied in Washington, D.C.

“If a steward needed help, I was there for them,” said Henriquez.

She brought the same passion to the classroom for more than 30 years as an English-as-a-second-language elementary school teacher. 

“I loved seeing children grow in their brain, learning and watching that lightbulb turn on, particularly in reading and math,” she said. “I still miss the way they made me laugh.”

Upon her leukemia diagnosis, Henriquez went directly into treatment. Amid that journey, Hurricane Irma hit. Henriquez felt she was strong enough to weather the storm with her two dogs. Then the tree fell. 

“It flew from two houses away. It landed within six inches of my roof and crushed the fence in my back yard,” said Henriquez. “My neighbors really helped me in that time, getting the debris cleared.”

After the dust settled, Henriquez called about the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant.¹ As a proud Union Plus Credit Cardholder, she was eligible for the Grant program.² 

“I love my Union Plus Credit Card. I love the interest rate, fraud protection [if your card is lost or stolen], the rewards. I use it to travel, and I took a European cruise with my rewards points,” she said.

“After I talked to Union Plus, an email was sent almost immediately to notify me,” said Henriquez. “I was so thankful I was union member. It reinforced that we help each other in the union. The check came in time to make a real difference.”

She used her grant to rebuild her fence and restore the yard on both sides. A few months later, after being in the hospital 28 days, she was deemed leukemia-free. 
 
“I tell people, ‘You have to listen to your own body and don’t depend at a doctor to look at the whole thing. Be your own advocate,’” said Henriquez. “The same goes for your entire life. See? I never stop teaching.” 

Through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant, eligible union members receive $500 for help with recovery. Additionally, Union Plus Auto, Life and Accident Insurance Programs or Mortgage Program members may be eligible to receive extensions or other special help from the respective program providers. 

If a natural disaster hits, AFT and other union members who are Union Plus Credit Card holders should call 800-622-2580 to speak directly with a specially trained representative. 

Union Plus Mortgage and Union Plus Life, Accident and Auto Insurance holders should call 800-472-2005 to speak to a Union Plus staff member.

For more information, visit unionplus.org/hardship.

American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 47 member Ken Gruberman used to think online flower orders were costly and would arrive late or not at all, but the Union Plus Flower Discount Program through Teleflora has changed his mind. 

Gruberman has worked in the field of music preparation for 50 years. He is currently involved in getting music out of a composer or arranger’s mind and onto a printed page for either performance or recording. This year Gruberman will receive a Lifetime Membership Pin for being an AFM Local 47 member for 50 years. 

When Gruberman initially saw the Union Plus discount email advertising their Teleflora offer for Valentine’s Day this year, he thought the offer almost seemed too good to be true.

“I know that Union Plus stands behind their partnerships, and when I saw the promotion, it stood out for me because the photos looked more alluring than similar offers,” he said.  

Gruberman clicked on the email link and immediately felt impressed by what he saw on the special Union Plus web page—a page you could only access via the special offer email. 

“It had items that were not on the regular Teleflora pages (I checked), and the prices were as spectacular as the arrangements,” Gruberman said. 

For about the same cost as he’d spent in the past, he received an expertly crafted, beautiful arrangement in a spectacular vase that “actually brought tears to my wife’s eyes when it was delivered,” he said. 

Gruberman said he was also kept apprised of his order’s progress and was even able to talk to the hometown florists doing the work. The flowers are always hand-delivered locally and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Gruberman does not drive due to an eye condition. In the past, ordering flowers online has been more convenient compared to coordinating a ride to a local florist and then figuring out a way to sneak the surprise into the house without being seen. 

“Thank you Union Plus for supporting union members, for giving us discounts we can really use and that enhance our lives, and for always being there when we need you,” Gruberman said.

Gruberman is also grateful for access to other Union Plus benefits including the Union Plus Credit Card Program. He said its initial appeal was the low interest rate and the option for hardship help in case of job loss, disability or a strike, not to mention the cash-back rewards.

He is also enrolled in the Union Plus Wireless Discount Program for his AT&T plan. “AT&T coverage is our lifeline when we travel, so this is really appreciated,” he said. 

“Unions are having to fight to stay relevant to a new generation and aren’t always able to offer benefits to their membership as they used to,” Gruberman added. “To have an umbrella organization like Union Plus stepping up to fill that gap? As the ad says, ‘priceless.’”

Order beautiful flower arrangements and gift baskets through the Union Plus discount program and make someone’s day. Flowers are perfect for birthdays and holidays, and is a lovely way to say, "Get well," "Thank you!” or “Congrats.” Union members, retirees and family members save 20% to 25% by visiting unionplus.org/flowers or calling 888-667-7779.
 

Tied with Katrina as the costliest weather event of its kind, Hurricane Harvey inflicted approximately $125 million in damage as it cut a northerly path through Texas. 

In its path, City of Houston Water Inspector and AFSCME Local 123 member Demond Stanley. Hunkered down with his nine-year-old and two-year-old children, Stanley rode out the storm. In the first day, two feet of rain fell. At its worst, on September 1, 2017, a third of Houston was underwater and 39,000 had to evacuate to shelters.

“Yep, my house had water damage. It messed up a lot of flooring and many of our possessions,” said Stanley. “It was some storm.”

Stanley describes himself as pretty involved with his AFSCME local union. He regularly attends meetings and passes out flyers at different events as needed. As a water inspector, he appreciates confronting the different challenges and problem-solving approaches required to ensure Houston has safe water for its residents. It’s a passion that came in handy in the aftermath of Harvey. 

“I was basically trying to pay the bills and keep everything together,” said Stanley. “In the midst of it, I had someone remind me that I might want to call Union Plus.”

Stanley talked to a Union Plus representative who encouraged him to apply for its Disaster Relief Grant. The Grant is available to AFSCME and other union members who are Union Plus Credit Card holders. Through it, union members may receive $500 for help with recovery. 

In addition, Union Plus Auto, Life and Accident Insurance Programs or Mortgage Program participants may be eligible to receive extensions or other special help from the respective program providers. The Disaster Relief Grant is also available to Union Plus Auto, Life or Accident Insurance policy holders.

“I looked in the mail one day and there it is! A check from Union Plus,” said Stanley. “It enabled me to buy some more furniture, put a down payment on new carpet and get current on my credit card. I also really appreciated the flexibility of my Union Plus Credit Card through Capital One. Those folks were outstanding.” 

In addition to meeting his needs, Stanley was also able to replace one of his children’s prized possessions. 

“My boy lost his Big Wheel,” said Stanley. “That was the thing he wanted to most. We got that replaced too.”

Everything has returned basically back to normal for the Stanley family and all is well. Stanley is grateful for Union Plus and his union’s AFSCME Advantage benefits and how they helped him navigate all the upheaval.

“I love Union Plus because it’s so flexible and fast,” said Stanley. “I made the phone call and the representative put me together with all the programs I needed that would make a difference for my situation. I’ve always liked the discounts and cash back, but the disaster relief program was simply amazing.” 

If a natural disaster hits, AFSCME and other union members who are Union Plus Credit Card holders should call 1-800-622-2580 to speak directly with a specially trained representative. 

Union Plus Mortgage and Union Plus Life, Accident and Auto Insurance holders should call 1-800-472-2005 to speak to a Union Plus staff member.

Maria Lopez has been a member of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) for 24 years. And early on, she learned about the serious savings she could earn with the Union Plus benefits available to union members and their families. 

“There are so many perks that we use all the time,” says Lopez. “The wireless discount, the deals on restaurants and movie tickets, the flowers discount, the list goes on.”

So when Union Plus recently had a contest offering $1,000 to the union member who referred the most friends to the program, Lopez went all in. “I saw the contest in our union newsletter, and I emailed out the information to every one of my union friends,” says Lopez. Before long, she got the call that she’d won the $1,000 prize.

“That prize is really just a bonus,” says Lopez. “Union Plus has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. I go to the website and I always find something good.”

It doesn’t hurt that Lopez is an expert at finding information on the job. She’s a senior records technician for a California state program that serves a diverse population of alternative students — from kids who are home-schooled to children who are homeless. “These are kids who really need our help,” says Lopez. “So it’s nice to have Union Plus helping us.”

To unwind away from work, Lopez and her husband like to take trips to Las Vegas. It may be true that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but Lopez has learned an even more important lesson: What happens in Vegas is a lot less expensive when you use Union Plus benefit and discount programs.

“When we’re in Vegas, we use Union Plus to save on hotels, on shows, on our rental car, you name it,” she says. “We save a lot on every trip, and we go three or four times a year.”  

Helping union members save money on vacation is just one small part of Union Plus’ mission. Union Plus also helps with all sorts of everyday needs at home — from dental and vision discounts to homeowners insurance and renters insurance to assistance buying a car. And if you’re buying a home, there’s even a home mortgage program that’s especially designed for union members and their families.

Union Plus offers more than 25 member benefit and discount programs in coordination with CSEA and other unions.

“I could talk all day about all the Union Plus programs,” says Lopez. “I was thrilled to get the thousand-dollar prize, but I’d be telling people about Union Plus even without it. The benefits really come in handy. Go to the website, check it out. You’ll find so many good things.”

While Haley loves working for the union, it’s taken him far from home in Texas, where his mother still lives. Haley’s mom is well, but she’s a widow and has to make ends meet on a fixed income. Recently, she learned her Medicare prescription drug costs were going to balloon to $900 a year — that’s $75 every month. “For her, that’s two weeks of groceries,” says Haley. “We knew we had to do something.” 

Fortunately, Haley knew about Union Plus retiree health benefits available to union members and their family members who are Medicare eligible. “I’m the Signalmen’s liaison to Union Plus and I had just attended a meeting about the eHealth service for retirees,” Haley says. 

The Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program lets union members, retirees — and even Medicare eligible family members who aren’t in a union like Haley’s mom — navigate Medicare plan options and choose the plan that’s right for them. While Haley was visiting his mom, they went to the Union Plus website and accessed information about retiree health insurance. 

“In just 20 minutes, we saw all her options online and realized just how much she could save,” says Haley. Using Union Plus, they found a Medicare prescription drug plan that cut her costs from $75 a month to $16.70 a month — a $700 annual savings. 

“When you’re living on a fixed-income, that’s huge,” says Haley. “I’d strongly recommend the Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program to any union member who’s nearing Medicare age or with family members nearing or in retirement. I was really impressed at how easy it was to get the answers, and the savings, my mother needed.” 

Here’s how the Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program works: You enter information about your budget and health needs into the online recommendation tool. Then it compares plans in your area based on monthly premiums, annual deductibles, as well as copayments and coinsurance for various services. There’s no obligation to enroll in a plan and no additional cost for using the Union Plus service if you do. 

For members who prefer a live person to a computer, the Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program also has licensed insurance advisors you can call to get the information you need over the phone. 

“Taking those 20 minutes to check out the Union Plus retiree health care program has made a big difference for my mom,” says Haley. “She’s getting the same medicines she was before, but at a price she can afford.” 

“This is just one of the great Union Plus benefits available to our members,” says Haley. “Even though I’m the liaison for the Union Plus program, I’m still learning about some of them.” Altogether, Union Plus offers more than 25 benefit and discount programs to union members and their families. 

To learn more about the Union Plus Retiree Health Insurance Program, visit unionplus.org/medicare.

“I love it,” said Branca. “It’s independent, I’m outside and I can be really goal oriented with myself.” 

Branca is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 2572, in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. She has a solid relationship with her union.

“I know my union reps well, and it’s a good community of postal workers,” said Branca. “They’ve been great to me, and they look out for all of their employees.”

As she began walking her mail route from house to house, and knew the USPS was going to be the stable, fun job she envisioned, she accelerated her goal to purchase her own home. It’s a moment she’d been working toward since adolescence.  

Branca also knew where to turn first for such a major, life-changing purchase. 

“After I found the house I wanted, I went straight to Union Plus,” said Branca. “It was literally a five-minute conversation. The Union Plus Mortgage Company representative took my information, I told him what I was willing to pay for the house, and I was pre-approved on the spot.”

Branca didn’t stop there. She went ahead and shopped for other loans. No one could touch Union Plus Mortgage Company. 

“No one could come close to Union Plus,” she said. “And because I had a big enough down payment, they shared closing costs, and it all happened so fast.”

For qualifying members, 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.

For more information, visit unionplusmortgage.com. 

“I review and prepare all the papers that go to the public. I field calls about complaints and then ensure they move into our system for investigation,” said Lumley. “We’re really a haven for people who have been taken advantage of by an attorney.”

Lumley loves her job because of the people with whom she works, and she loves Union Plus through AFSCME Advantage. The referral contest emerged at the right moment for her – she had wanted to find a way to become more involved in promoting AFSCME/CSEA. 

A devout user of Union Plus benefits, she was scanning the website and saw a promotion for a Union Plus Referral Contest. The contest provided the perfect entrée for her.

“Our union really has our back, and they take good care of us, but I knew that not many people knew Union Plus was an AFSCME/CSEA benefit. I thought, ‘Wow, this is the opportunity I’ve been looking for,’” she said.

The response to referrals, which she handled with ease at UnionPlus.org, was overwhelming, and Lumley was able to sign up her entire office for all of the offers available to AFSCME/CSEA members through Union Plus. Then she found out she won the contest.

“I was in shock,” said Lumley. “Is this really happening? I never win anything.”

A mother of two daughters, Lumley loves camping and bowling and will use her $1,000 in prize money toward an upcoming, active Florida vacation. Predictably, she was also right back on the Union Plus website to find out about discounts on Florida theme parks, restaurants and recreational discounts union members can leverage while travelling.

“I love Union Plus, and of course, I think every union member should know about them. It can save them time and money,” she said. “I use Union Plus for absolutely anything and everything that’s relevant to me – from movie tickets to pet insurance. And Union Plus is so great about providing tips on cars, credit advice. They are a constant life resource for me.”

Union Plus shares periodic reminders about great discounts and new programs available for union members and their families. Follow Union Plus on Facebook for the latest contest announcements. Facebook/UnionPlus or register to receive notifications on Union Plus programs at unionplus.org.

Members were asked a series of seven questions about their thoughts on the AT&T Signature Program, including questions about whether they would recommend the program to other members and which program benefit they liked most.

Members ranked the following program benefits highest:

1. 15% discount on the monthly service charge of qualified wireless plans^{2
   Req’s valid proof of membership with AFL-CIO member union. Indv. member must be acct. holder. Add’l restr’s apply. See 15% details below.}
    
2. Supporting more than 150,000 unionized workers at AT&T
    
3. 20% discount on select accessories from AT&T^{3
   Exclusions and other restrictions apply. See below for 20% details.}

Members also expressed satisfaction about the ease of using the program. 

“It’s easy to sign up and saves money,” said OPEIU member Suzanne Finn.  

UFCW member Debra Hoehing also commented positively about the program.

"It's a great benefit for being a union member," said Hoehing.

For more information on the AT&T Signature Program Discounts through Union Plus and how union members can save on wireless, visit unionplus.org/att.

“I love airport customer interactions,” says Chris Mercado, a Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) lead officer, assistant training officer and American Federation Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Local 618 member. “No matter what travelers think of us, I like turning the tables on their perception of us and delighting them.”

As a union steward, Mercado has mediated disputes, served as an advocate and played a role in the transition of leadership when his local’s president passed away. An active recruiter of new union members, he makes union benefits the focal point of his pitch.

“AFGE organizers made joining easy. They told me about the union benefits up front,” said Mercado. “I never forgot that, and so when I recruit, I make sure to point out the AFGE benefits.”

Mercado’s thorough knowledge of the union benefits came in handy when a need arose nearly overnight. Mercado’s wife Katelin, a manager of a storage facility where the couple received free housing, was informed by the owner that he was selling. She lost her job, and they lost their apartment.

“I immediately looked up my AFGE benefits to see what they could do should we decide on buying a home,” said Mercado. “The Union Plus Mortgage Company (UPMC) got me pre-approved right on the phone, and then they helped me every step of the way. Just 31 days later, I took the keys to our new house.”

Throughout the process of home buying, Mercado says the Union Plus Mortgage Company team constantly reassured him and checked up on him to see that he was getting the best deal.

“They got us in a house so fast, they answered every question, it was amazing,” said Mercado. “I asked so many questions as we started shopping, and every time, Union Plus was there.”

Mercado uses his AFGE benefits to save money and access grants and awards for most areas of his life and he encourages other union members to do the same.

“I’m a member of the Motor Club, I have pet insurance through them, and I use the Union Plus Mobile App all the time,” said Mercado. “For every big-ticket item, I turn to my AFGE benefits first.”

As for his house, Mercado is grateful and excited. He and his wife have never had so much space, and it’s become a retreat from the rigors of his work.

“We found this beautiful home and it is really the best for us,” said Mercado.

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

For qualifying members, 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.

For more information, visit unionplusmortgage.com

The Union Plus team works hard to bring union members discount benefits that help stretch their paychecks and get the goods and services they need for themselves and their families. So it makes sense that the UP team — which includes OPEIU Local 2 members— is also a generous supporter of the Metro Washington Council Community Services Agency's Holiday Basket Project.

This year, UFCW Local 400 single mom Kimberly Mitchell was the recipient of Union Plus' holiday cheer, receiving over $300 worth of Giant Food Store gift cards.

"Thanks for all you guys do!" said Mitchell, in appreciation to both the UP team for their contributions and CSA. 

Since 1986, Union Plus has been committed to helping improve the quality of life for working families with over 25 benefit programs — including discounts on wireless, travel, entertainment and more.

To learn more about Union Plus and special member discount benefits, visit unionplus.org.