Trade unionist and veteran of Clyde shipyard work-in dies

Clyde cranes: Glasgow's shipbuilding industry is largely a thing of yesteryear.

A trade unionist who made his name fighting Ted Heath’s attempted overhaul of industrial policy has died.

Sammy Barr led a work-in at the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in 1971 after the Conservative government withdrew public subsidies from the shipyard.

The government insisted the yard was uneconomic and in response Mr Barr – alongside fellow union bosses Jimmy Reid, Jimmy Airlie, and Sammy Gilmore - organised a work-in to prove that claim false.

Mr Barr, who died on Monday aged 80, led his fellow shipbuilders to keep up production and eventually reversed the government’s policy. The demonstration was credited with saving 6,000 jobs.

As well as industrial relations, Mr Barr was also active in electoral politics. He stood for election to Parliament as a Communist in Glasgow Garscadden in the general elections of February 1974 and 1979, in addition to the by-election of 1978.

He died of pneumonia at the Beatson Oncology Unit in Glasgow. He is survived by his wife Janet, and their children June, Brenda, Paul, and Gary.