Tom Barker

Tom Barker (3 June 1887 – 2 April 1970) was a New Zealand tram conductor, trade unionist, and socialist. He was born in Crosthwaite, Westmorland, England. He was a leading member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and politician in New Zealand and Australia and the editor of the IWW paper Direct Action. He married Bertha Isaakovna, a Polish-born ballet dancer.

Barker protested and marched for twelve arrested trade unionists of the IWW, the so-called Sydney Twelve, which were charged with conspiracy. Many believed they were framed for their anti-war and anti-conscription views. The unionists were found to be in violation of the Unlawful Associations Act (1916), an initiative the Federal Parliament adopted in December 1916 under the Hughes cabinet, which considered certain IWW members to be involved in a conspiratorial organization. They were also charged with being involved in series of arson and a counterfeiting scheme. He led numerous organizations around the globe to protest these charges and petition the government to change its decision, although these efforts proved fruitless.

Another poster, also attributed to Barker and distributed, shows a crucified soldier on a cannon while "Mr. Fat" fills his glass with war profits. This poster caused his arrest and the imposing of a prison sentence. He was released in 1918 and deported from the country on the first ship that would take him - a ship bound for Santiago, Chile.

Abroad In Chile and Argentina, he organized maritime workers unions into strikes for better conditions and wages. He began cooperating and working with Soviet ambassadors and liaisons, building rapport with the Soviet Union. The Soviets recruited him to aid in their Kuzbass Autonomous Industrial Colony project in which they would experiment Workers' control. He enlisted technicians in the United States until 1926 to join the project. Later he worked for a Soviet oil company.

From 1930 to 1931, Barker lived in Australia and then went to the United Kingdom, where he worked as an employee of an electric power company London. As a member of the British Labour Party, he was elected a councillor on St Pancras Metropolitan Borough Council. When he was later elected mayor, Barker reportedly raised a red flag.

Barker became a popular figure internationally for working class movements. His name has been used on occasion in songs of the labor movement. In the song "Gladiators", which was sung by Andy Irvine on the album Way Out Yonder, the life and political work of Barker is discussed in great detail.

Literature Eric Fry: "Barker, Tom (1887 - 1970)". Douglas Pike (Hrsg.): Australian Dictionary of Biography. Volume 7: 1891 - 1939. A - Ch. Melbourne University Press, Carlton Victoria 1979, , S. 174–175.