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Gerry Johnston is currently Co-Director of USW District 1. As the Vice President and Director of PACE Region VIII, he was the PACE International Union Chairperson on the merger committee during negotiations with the USWA.

Jerry was elected Vice President and Regional Director of the United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU) Region VIII at a special Convention in August 1986 and held this office for 20 years. The Region encompassed Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Jerry got his start in the paper industry in 1958 at Diamond International Corporation in Middletown, Ohio. He was a leader and finally president of the Gardner Employees Independent Union in the plant before leading his small union into the UPIU in 1972.

Prior to employment in the paper industry, Jerry was a pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization from 1955-1958 until an injury short-circuited his career. In 1973, he was hired as an International Representative by UPIU and serviced local unions in Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.

Jerry has a proven track record as an organizer, having organized workers at Candlelight Corp. in Hillsboro, Crystal Tissue in Middletown, as well as workers at Diamond International. He was the first President of UPIU Local 1973 and currently retains membership in USW Local 5-550. He also serves as a vice president of the Ohio AFL-CIO, and on the Advisory Council of the American Arbitration Association.

USW District 1

660 Northland Road, Suite 25
Cincinnati, OH 45240
513.742.2095 - Telephone

513.742.8824 - FAX