Member Voices

Regina Gillam

Rec. Sec., ATU Local 627, 627

Once Regina Gillam, a coach operator for SORTA in Cincinnati, was released to work on the Labor 2006 program in mid-September, her workdays no longer consisted of eight hours.  "Most evenings, I didn't even get home until well after 9:00 pm," said Gillam.  "It was worth it though.  I feel like all of my hard work was really worthwhile."

100 Calls Every Evening

In addition to assisting with mailings, recruiting ATU volunteers and distributing leaflets at work sites, Gillam participated in labor canvasses every Saturday morning and regularly participated in phone banks.  By mid-October, she was making more than 100 phone calls every evening.  "I think I actually persuaded quite a few people to reconsider their votes and to support the union-endorsed candidates," she said.  "Some of the callers were surpirsed by how much information I was able to provide on the candidates."

"It's important to be a part of the political movement.  If we want to change things in this country, we have to get out and get active.  You can't complain about anything if you're not doing your share," said Gillam.