Barry Fowlie, Canadian Director

Barry Fowlie’s working class life experiences shaped his values. His classroom was the neighbourhood he grew up in, as well as the everyday activities and struggles on the shop floor and the many diverse individuals richly influenced his life.

Barry began working at the age of 6, delivering the Guelph Guardian newspaper. He learned from his parents that “those that do the work should reap the benefits”, after trying to exploit his younger sister by paying her a paltry sum to do part of his route.

At age 8, Barry became a milkman’s helper delivering milk for Victoria Dairy. “I take every opportunity to tell people about the dairy I worked for and about June – the horse that pulled the milk wagon. People aren’t sure whether or not to believe me, but it’s all true”, relates Barry.

The next person to have a significant influence on Barry was William Wallace. “No, not the legendary Wallace, but the Teamsters steward at Gay Lea Foods where I worked. Bill taught me that it was not just permissable to challange an employer over decisions, but our right to do so.”

As a child of the 1960′s Barry was influenced by the radicalism of the era: the student movement and the Vietnam anti-war movement. Like many of his generation, Barry was eager to get out into the world. He travelled west and worked on an oil rig, saw mill, postal delivery, and a number of other jobs that greatly influenced his growth and knowledge.

He later returned to Ontario and participated in an organizing drive by the United Paperworkers International Union. After this he became invloved in a graphic arts cooportative, learning to typeset and print books and periodicals.

In 1983 Barry successfully organized his new workplace with the Graphics Arts International Union. He then went on to work at a vinyl siding plant in Acton and became a Rubberworker, acting as steward and health and safety representative.

Barry started work at Owen’s Corning in 1986. Represented by the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU), a predecessor union of Workers United, Barry became the union steward, health and safety rep, WSIB rep and recording secretary. His developing expertise in the areas of health and safety and workers compensation drew the attention of the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Workers Compensation and Training Project and Barry was selected to become an instructor.

In 2002, Barry successfully applied for the position of UNITE’s Canadian Education Director. Over the years Barry has written, delivered and developed a number of courses for the benefit of our members. He has mentored many members in becoming workplace leaders and instructors throughout our union. Working in unison with the Workers United Education Committee, leadership schools and conferences are now planned, organized and executed collectively.

In December 2011 Barry was overwhelmingly elected as Director of Workers United Canada Council.