One on One with...
Region 8 Director Gary Casteel
Region 8 states mostly went for George Bush in the election, with many voters saying they liked his “values.” What will the UAW have to do to help win back these voters?
Only Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania went for Kerry, out of the 11 states and four counties in Pennsylvania that Region 8 represents. Nationally, Kerry took only the Northeast, upper Midwest and the West Coast. To reverse this trend, we must connect with the electorate over what they care about. Many people voted moral values over economic needs. We have to develop activists who can work inside and outside our membership to tell people who voted for Bush that they have more in common with union values than with corporate values. Union values are about looking out for everybody. Corporate values are about looking out for No. 1.
Region 8 has done well organizing new members. What has been the secret to your success?
Of 7,500 workers organized in our region since 2002, the majority came through some form of card check or neutrality agreement. This illustrates that if you remove corporate intimidation, workers nearly always go union. Labor law is stacked in favor of the boss. With the Bush administration pushing anti-worker legislation, no help will come on his watch. Absent that, workers have to decide the gains outweigh the risks and be willing to withstand the boss’ threats.
Region 8 represents a huge, multistate area. How has your Web site served to keep members in touch?
The Web site (www.uawregion8.net) has been active two years now. We have had more than 300,000 hits. We average about 300 hits a day. The site is more than 400 pages and generates numerous organizing requests. When you are as spread out as we are, all methods of communication must be utilized.
A Region 8 veterans council was formed last year. What role do you see veterans playing in your region?
Veterans learn valuable leadership and organizational skills while in the service. As we focus on revitalizing our standing committees, we need strong leadership like theirs. We strive to promote grassroots activism because that is the best way to build the union.
Last year you said, “In politics, it’s what we do in between elections that counts.” What will Region 8 be doing politically in 2005?
We are going to get more members to take activist roles in their communities. Our issues, like trade and national health care, help all workers, union and not-yet union, but we lose elections because of being portrayed as against or for things that are untrue. We win in union households 70 percent to 30 percent, but we lose among the general public. We have to be more proactive so we can define ourselves and not have the opposition do that for us.
