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.
1Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/strike-benefits.
When Honolulu UNITE HERE member Scott Abfalter walked out on a union-sanctioned strike last fall, he was able to get some financial assistance from an unexpected source. As a Union Plus Credit Cardholder, he was eligible for the Union Plus Strike Grant.