"I wanted to get a clearer understanding of the political process to better represent my members," says intern Greg Cosey, Recording Secretary/Treasurer of Local 590. The 21-year Fleet Service veteran said he has been active in many political campaigns over the years, but the Washington internship was an opportunity to "learn from people who are doing it really well on an everyday basis."

 

Cosey says he enjoyed getting a first-hand view of how Washington works. "I got to see the mechanics of government and, more importantly, the politics. What you see on TV or in the newspapers is not quite an accurate portrayal of the process."

 

The second intern, Doug Wegryn, the Cleveland Section Chair for Local 2019, agrees: "I got to meet many Representatives and Senators and going to legislative hearings was particularly informative. It’s a real hands-on experience versus seeing it on TV or reading about it in the newspaper."

 

Now in his 34th year as a railroad Carmen, Wegryn has been active for two decades in three Presidential elections and countless local races. He views the internship as a way to carry on the tradition of unionism, "to help elect officials who are labor-friendly."

 

Both Wegryn and Cosey recommend the internship to other TWU activists. "It’s a unique opportunity," Cosey says. "It’s a chance to see where our COPE dollars go. The Washington office is a microcosm of what our union should look like in terms of political effectiveness."

 

Wegryn adds: "It’s an opportunity to learn how to get the right people elected, the politicians who will be good for working people. And you’ll be able to bring the knowledge back to your local and give people an informed idea of what’s going on in Washington."

 

Cosey said he learned what an important role congressional staffers play in structuring a bill, since few congress people know the details of every bill. "I love to learn. Anytime I’m in a learning mode," he says, "I’m enjoying myself."