Barney Oursler, Co-Director

Barney Oursler has worked as an organizer with the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee since its inception, serving as Coordinator and Co-Director. While earning a BA degree from Penn State University, he organized for student rights and anti-war issues. While pursuing graduate studies and working as a teaching assistant at the University of Buffalo, Barney coordinated a 3 year union organizing drive for State University graduate staff.

Employed at the U.S. Steel Irvin Works in West Mifflin from 1978 through 1984, Barney served on USWA Local 2227’s Civil Rights, Legislative, and Newsletter Committees. In 1982 he was elected Grievance Representative for his department. He co-founded a statewide organization uniting communities fighting hate groups like the KK and Neo-nazis.

Barney was a founder of the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee, at various times responsible for its new unemployed committee organizing work, state and national Issue Campaigns, and co-coordinator of MVUC since 1985.