Local Union Spotlight- USW Local 1863

USW 1863 Ashland, KY
Steelworkers for Obama

About 705 members are from USW Local 1865 and many work for AK Steel (formerly Armco).  The union at USW Local 1865 was originated in or around the late 1940's to early 1950's.  The union hall is down town in Ashland, Kentucky- home of the Judd Family.  However, it was not a celebrity, but a labor-friendly statesman from Illinois that brought the members of USW Local 1865 to the union hall one night.
Last Thursday, a flow of people streamed in the doors of USW Local 1865 to observe Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech at the National Democratic Convention.  Friends of the labor movement like Walter Blevins Senate District 27 were there as well as many local union members and representatives and their families.  The food was good, as was the camaraderie, but nothing beat the swell of hushed stillness that came over the crowd as future President Barack Obama took the stage for his speech on the widescreen television.  Unanimous laughter and applause where the only other sounds made from that point on from the crowd.  An occasional nod or admirable glance was shared between the spectators in the union hall.  But what was really noticeable was the shared look of awe on each person’s face as they heard one of the most eloquent and truly inspiring speeches of our century.  Barack Obama spelled out his plans and promises to all Americans as well as how he intended to implement and fund those plans.  He made a number of references to the labor movement, like the steel mill that closed in Chicago and the people for whom he helped to find jobs afterwards.  He mentioned numerous times the middle class and the injustices that they suffer, and his fight to end that suffering.  He defended his background and experience as one who knows and understands the majority of the American people and will stand up for them.  The speech impressed many, including Emmanuel “Spurge” Mason, USW District 8 Assistant Director.  He expresses, as do others, his hopes for the future with Obama as President.  “If people will just listen to him,” Spurge stated, “they will hear that he really is for us…he’s not a fake!”