Andy Barr (politician)
Encyclopedia
Andy Barr was an Irish
communist and trade unionist.
Born in Belfast
, Barr became a sheet metal worker, and joined the Communist Party of Northern Ireland
(CPNI) in 1942. Barr became a shop steward in 1942, and by 1948 was a member of the Sheetmetal Workers' Union's Executive Committee. In 1949, he was sacked for organising a union meeting during working hours. The successful protests to reinstate him led to a stoppage of 10,000 workers. He stood unsuccessfully for the CPNI in Belfast Bloomfield
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
, taking only 11.8% of the votes cast.
In 1954, Barr was elected to the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Trades Union Congress, and in 1956 to the Executive Committee of the organisation. In 1959, he supported the formation of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
(ICTU). He became president of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
in 1957, serving until 1978, and President of his own union in 1964, the same year in which he secured recognition of the ICTU by the Government of Northern Ireland
. He stood again for the CPNI in Bloomfield at the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
, and in the same year became party chairman. The CPNI became part of the Communist Party of Ireland
in 1970, and Barr served as chair of the new organisation until 1983.
Barr was appointed to the Northern Ireland Economic Council, but resigned in 1973 in protest at the introduction of internment
. In 1974, Barr was appointed President of the ICTU. He also represented the ICTU on the ETUC, of which he was the first communist member.
Barr opposed the Ulster Workers' Council strike of 1974, and worked with Jimmy Graham to organise a march to demonstrate this. General Secretary of the TUC
Len Murray
led the march, into the Port of Belfast
, with Barr.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
communist and trade unionist.
Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Barr became a sheet metal worker, and joined the Communist Party of Northern Ireland
Communist Party of Northern Ireland
The Communist Party of Northern Ireland was a small communist party operating in Northern Ireland. Its origins lay in the 1941 split in the Communist Party of Ireland, which also produced the Irish Workers' Party in the Republic of Ireland...
(CPNI) in 1942. Barr became a shop steward in 1942, and by 1948 was a member of the Sheetmetal Workers' Union's Executive Committee. In 1949, he was sacked for organising a union meeting during working hours. The successful protests to reinstate him led to a stoppage of 10,000 workers. He stood unsuccessfully for the CPNI in Belfast Bloomfield
Belfast Bloomfield (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Bloomfield was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Bloomfield was a borough constituency comprising part of eastern Belfast...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, taking only 11.8% of the votes cast.
In 1954, Barr was elected to the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Trades Union Congress, and in 1956 to the Executive Committee of the organisation. In 1959, he supported the formation of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
(ICTU). He became president of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom.-History:The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades by small craft unions, on the initiative of Robert Knight of the United...
in 1957, serving until 1978, and President of his own union in 1964, the same year in which he secured recognition of the ICTU by the Government of Northern Ireland
Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
. He stood again for the CPNI in Bloomfield at the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
Northern Ireland general election, 1965
-Seats summary:-References:*...
, and in the same year became party chairman. The CPNI became part of the Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
in 1970, and Barr served as chair of the new organisation until 1983.
Barr was appointed to the Northern Ireland Economic Council, but resigned in 1973 in protest at the introduction of internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
. In 1974, Barr was appointed President of the ICTU. He also represented the ICTU on the ETUC, of which he was the first communist member.
Barr opposed the Ulster Workers' Council strike of 1974, and worked with Jimmy Graham to organise a march to demonstrate this. General Secretary of the TUC
General Secretary of the TUC
The General Secretary of the TUC is the chief permanent officer of the Trades Union Congress, and a major figurehead in the trade union movement in the United Kingdom....
Len Murray
Len Murray
Lionel Murray, Baron Murray of Epping Forest, OBE PC, known as Len Murray was a British Labour politician and union leader.-Early life:...
led the march, into the Port of Belfast
Port of Belfast
Belfast Harbour is a major maritime gateway in Northern Ireland, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland...
, with Barr.