After an energetic conclusion to the 35th Constitutional Convention and a rousing rally with labor allies, UAW President Bob King today announced new bargaining and organizing assignments for the union officers elected by convention delegates.

Gathered in a room at Detroit’s Cobo Center, the newly elected officers presented a unified front ready to focus on organizing, building power and winning justice for workers everywhere.

President Bob King made his assignments to International Executive Board members at a news conference following the convention. Photo by Rebecca Cook.

The UAW President’s Office, said King, will direct the National Organizing Department, and every UAW officer and member will play a vital role in organizing nonunion workers.

“There is great energy in the UAW,” said King. “We’re going to organize, and we’re going to put a lot of time and energy in it.”

“We want workers to know that they have the right to decide for themselves if they want to be in the UAW or any union,” King added.

The assignments include new directors for the National Ford and General Motors departments, as well as the creation of new departments focusing on organizing efforts in specific industries.

UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams, elected to his first term at the convention, will be responsible for the Accounting Department and related functions, and will direct the union’s Transnational and Joint Ventures, and Agricultural Implement departments.

UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, elected to a second term, will direct the National Ford, Aerospace, Insurance and Chaplaincy departments.

UAW Vice President General Holiefield, also elected to a second term, will continue to direct the Chrysler, Heavy Truck and Engine, and General Dynamics departments.

UAW Vice President Joe Ashton, elected to his first term, will direct the General Motors Department and the union’s new Gaming Department.

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, elected to her first term, will direct the Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers (CS/IPS) Department and have responsibility for the public and health care sectors.

In addition to these officers, convention delegates elected 11 regional directors.

Chuck Hall is the newly elected director of UAW Region 1, which covers Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola and part of Wayne (including Detroit) Michigan counties. Region 1 also includes the UAW’s Canadian local unions.

Rory Gamble, elected to a second term, will continue as director of UAW Region 1A, which covers most of Wayne County (Mich.), (including part of Detroit), as well as Monroe and Michigan counties, and extends to the Ohio border.

Norwood Jewel, elected to his first term, is UAW Region 1C director. The region covers 11 counties in south-central Michigan, including the cities of Flint, Lansing and Jackson.

Gerald Kariem is the newly elected director of UAW Region 1D, comprising 62 counties that span western, central and northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The region includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Saginaw, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Escanaba and Marquette.

Ken Lortz will continue as the director of UAW Region 2B. Lortz was first elected to the post at a special convention on April 30, 2009, to fill a vacancy created by retiring Director Lloyd Mahaffey. Region 2B covers the state of Ohio.

Maurice “Mo” Davison, elected to his second term, continues as director of UAW Region 3, which covers the states of Indiana and Kentucky.

Ron McInroy, elected to his first term, will direct UAW Region 4, covering the north-central states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

Jim Wells was elected to a fifth term as director of UAW Region 5, which covers 17 western and southwestern states, including Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Alaska, Washington state and Hawaii.

Gary Casteel, elected to his third term, will continue as director of UAW Region 8, which includes Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware and the following counties of Pennsylvania: Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York.

Scott Adams, elected to his first term, will direct UAW Region 9, covering western and central New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania  (excluding the counties of Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York).

Julie Kushner, elected to her first term, is the director of UAW Region 9A and the region’s first woman to hold the position. Region 9A covers New York (including the New York City metropolitan area, the Hudson Valley and the Capital District area), Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Puerto Rico.

Sandra Davis