Report From 2004 Region
8 Women's Department Conference
The annual UAW
Region 8 Women’s Conference was held at Treasure Island,
Florida February 24-26, 2004. Local 2195 delegates included Cindy
Willis, Barbara Parker and Tammy Roberts. Delegates from all 12
states in our region were represented at the conference.
Region 8 Director Gary Casteel welcomed the delegates to Florida
and touched on some of the topics that would be discussed during
our workshops. Political action and voting in this year’s
national elections was stressed to all members. The keynote speaker
was International Union Secretary-Treasurer and Director of the
Women’s Department Elizabeth Bunn. She spoke on issues facing
our union and conducted a question and answer session with the
delegates.
All delegates attended a workshop on a new program sponsored by
the International Union called “Woman – to –
Woman.” This program involves members of local union women’s
committees seeking volunteers to help get the vote out on November
02, 2004. Talking and listening to member issues and providing
facts on our economy and job loss were stressed. The program is
designed for all women in the plants to be contacted one on one
and encouraged to vote. This workshop was conducted by International
Representatives from the Women’s Department Audrey Terrell
and Patricia Scribner.
The second day of the conference featured an address by National
CAP Director Dick Long. He gave a very stirring speech on the
shape of our nation’s economy and loss of jobs due to NAFTA.
Since 1994 there have been 3 million jobs lost in the United States
due to NAFTA. He discussed the way our government is voting on
important issues in the middle of the night without watch groups
present. Another growing problem we face is health care. There
are 44 million people in our country without health insurance.
After Director Long’s speech the delegates were divided
up into two groups. These groups discussed Women in the Global
Economy and Women, Politics and Power. All delegates attended
both workshops.
There was a call for two delegates who had never attended a Women’s
Department Conference before to make a report out. Laura Brown
of Local 3399, South Charleston, West Virginia and Oleath Carter
of Local 239, Baltimore, Maryland made the report. They did a
great job reporting back to the conference on what they had gained.
In Solidarity,
Tammy Roberts
Women’s Committee Chairperson
Local 2195
