Member Spotlight: Jason Gentle (USW)

My name is Jason Gentle, and I’m a member of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8498 at the Ardagh Metal Packaging Plant in Winston-Salem, NC. I’m a millwright. We handle all the maintenance, support equipment, welding, and fabricating in the plant. I very much enjoy what I do, because it’s something different every single day. We make a good product at Ardagh, and it’s a good company to work for. I was a pipe welder at a different company before, but after 23 years there, I was only making four more dollars an hour than when I started and still only had one week’s vacation. When we moved here in 2019, I heard about this union job in the aluminum can plant from a neighbor’s son. I’d never worked a union job, but my Uncle Reggie has been the president of his union for 30 years, and he’s always talked about how good union jobs are. I didn’t know until I actually got one!

My union is important to me because the workplace is how I support my family, and I want to provide for them the best I can. Without the union, I wouldn’t get paid what I do or get the benefits that I have. Our power is what makes the company share the money. It’s been a blessing, and I’m very thankful for it, which is why I’m getting myself more involved in my union and doing everything I can to help others get a union too. I became a shop steward, so I’m always actively in the plant talking to the new people who come in. I introduce myself, greet them at the door if I can, and let them know about the union and what we do. I want to help other people make their lives better for their families and themselves too. 

We have around an 86% membership rate at the plant and good people in charge who really want what’s best for everybody. We all work together with the mindset that you don’t leave anybody behind. I’m a millwright, so I could argue that my wages should be higher than others, but I don’t want to get more for somebody else to get less. I want all of us to eat. It takes a village, so we all work together to make our workplace good for everybody.

I want everybody to know that I love my family, I love God, and I love my coworkers—and that joining a union will change your life. I enjoy being a part of something that helps people make a better way for their families. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, because we have a contract coming up in February. There’s gonna be some tough negotiating, but we’re prepared. I’m a proud member of the USW 8498, and I’m proud of all union members.