Samuel Alexander Barr (20 December 1931 – 7 May 2012) was a British shipyard worker, trade unionist and Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) work-in veteran.
[1] Barr was an "inspiring speaker"[1] and organiser who was a "widely respected shop steward"[1] of the Boilermakers' Society at the time of the "historic work-in"[1] at the UCS in 1971.
[1] Barr was credited with coming up with the idea for a work-in, which gained a lot of publicity and forced the UK Government into a reversal, saving 6,000 jobs at the shipyard.
[1] As well as his involvement in politics and the trade unions, Barr is known to have written variously during his lifetime for journals such as Labour Monthly, the Daily Worker and the Morning Star.
[3] In the short term, the UK Government, led by Ted Heath, backed down and were forced into an embarrassing u-turn on the immediate future of the shipyard.
[3] Barr's commitment to the representation of workers continued throughout his life and he was president of the retired member's association for the GMB Union, and a branch secretary in Glasgow right up until his death.
"[9] From a young age, Barr showed a keen interest in politics - he was elected onto the Communist Party's Scottish Committee.