Former UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel Elected to Position of International Union UAW Secretary Treasurer
By UAW Region 8 Webmaster John Davis
On June 4, 2014 UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel was elected International UAW Secretary-Treasurer at the 36th Constitutional Convention. Secretary-Treasurer is the number two position within the UAW, right under the office of the President. The responsibilities include accounting, auditing the financial records of UAW Locals and Councils, purchasing and issuing strike assistance. In addition, President Williams has assigned Secretary-Treasurer Casteel the responsibility for Mitsubishi Motors and Transnational Organizing. 
Gary Casteel was born in Florence, Alabama and spent eight years as a member of Steamfitters-Pipefitters Local 760 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. His father the late Ray Casteel served as Chairman of UAW Local 255 in Florence, Alabama and was an International Representative for 23 years after serving on the Ford National Bargaining Team in 1967.
Gary was hired at UAW Local 737 as a pipefitter at the Ford Plant in Nashville, Tennessee, where he served on the bargaining and negotiating teams. He also served two terms as Vice-President of the UAW-Ford Sub Council No.3 and was elected three times as a Skilled Trades Representative.
A member of UAW Local 3036 in Memphis, Tennessee, Gary Casteel was appointed to the International Staff in 1997 by President Stephen P. Yokich. As a servicing representative he handled GM’s Spring Hill Assembly as well as independent parts suppliers in Region 8.
In 2002, Gary Casteel was elected UAW Region 8 Director, and then reelected again in 2006 and 2010. Under Director Casteel’s tenure, Region 8 saw a number of organizing victories adding members in sectors all over the region. In North Carolina - a state that has bragged about the low number of union members to business groups - the UAW won a number of victories in the heavy truck sector during the twelve years that Director Casteel has served. All across the region there were other victories from automotive parts suppliers, school bus drivers to professional advocates for education as well while the Casteel Team worked to organize workers to their benefit and the benefit of all working class families.
During the twelve years that Gary Casteel served the membership of Region 8, one of the largest economic  downturns since the Great Depression occurred. Our members in Region 8 felt the stress and struggle of this downturn as well, as many factories closed. Director Casteel worked tirelessly on behalf of our members caught up in this struggle.
Gary and his wife, Penny, were married in 1984 and have three children, Laura Frances, Clinton Reed and Benjamin Ray. They live in Ashland City, Tenn., and are members of Ashland City United Methodist Church. Gary belongs to the Democratic Party and the NAACP. He enjoys the outdoors, being an avid sportsman and farmer.
“Gary” as he prefers to be called, spent the past twelve years laughing, marching and standing with this membership. While the membership will miss him here in our Region, we take pride in his accomplishments and send our thoughts and prayers with him. Gary’s quiet strength and resolve have served as an inspiration to us all. As you move to your new assignment as International Union UAW Secretary Treasurer, our hopes and dreams go with you and know you will always be a member of UAW Region 8.
Click here for a Photo Tribute to Gary Casteel
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