Arthur Blackwell is a retired but active member of Local 1916 in Pennsylvania. He worked for the Department of Energy and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Arthur has been a member since 1988 and has continuously volunteered to door knock and make phone calls to support the endorsed candidates of the Allegheny-Labor Council. During the election season, he will be out three or four days a week making calls or canvassing. He has volunteered to assist new members who have not been exposed or participated in political events. He routinely works at various centers to register people to vote. Arthur has been serving as one of the local's political organizers for many decades.
Prior to his retiring, he was a steward and assisted with contract negotiations. He participated in events that were coordinated with the district to engage employees to become members. He would create Lunch-and-Learns for the technicians in the research labs as a way to meet with employees that were not able to attend big organizing events due to their work schedule. This was for both day and second shift.
His personality makes him a great mentor. He is the first to step up to bring a new employee onboard to learn about the union and a go-to person at the local’s Labor Council.
Arthur has graciously represented his local on various clean-up days of Veterans Memorials in the local community. He proudly serves on various teams for the local for the Labor Day Parade, Memorial Day events, collections for veterans, to name a few.
Arthur said he felt very honored to be the recipient of the union’s Veteran of the Year award.
“I thank all that feel that I am worthy,” he said. “My time in the military taught me to respect the leadership’s directions, no questions asked. I expressed that respect by doing my job to the best of my ability. I carried that attitude into my time with the union, except in this organization I found that I had a voice. As I have matured in the movement, I have been blessed to be able to pass on my attitudes and wisdom to the next generation of union members. I consider it doing my job to the best of my ability."
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