All Sides of the Diamond –
A Talk with J.J. Barry

From his office, International President J.J. Barry looks out over the rooftops of downtown Washington, D.C. The Washington Monument and the White House are just visible out of the corner of his window. But behind his imposing desk sits a serious yet unassuming man. His suit jacket off, his sleeves rolled up, his tie loosened-ready for business.

Growing up in Upstate New York seemed like a long way off for Brother Barry as he talked about his time as International President on a hot May afternoon. “I loved baseball,” he said, “and I thought I wanted to go on after school to play semi-pro ball.” To this day he speaks using baseball analogies. His father was a Local 43, Syracuse, New York, member, however, and three days after graduation John J. Barry joined the international Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

But his baseball skills have served him well over the years. Strategy, finesse, teamwork, communication, drive and dedication have all mixed into President Barry’s game plan. Since joining the Brotherhood, he has consistently exhibited a real sense of purpose, a desire for completeness and the patience to get the job done right. He said many people had influenced him as he grew up. First and foremost was his father and his family. He listed teachers, friends and colleagues, then he paused. He went on to describe a man who taught him his first trade—cable splicing. He said, “He was a craftsman ...he was a philosopher, he read a lot and would talk about what he read.” He, President Barry went on to say, always stressed neatness, orderliness, doing the job well enough to be proud of it. Thinking of the job as an art, “even if it was in a manhole.”

President Barry has always included his community as part of his team. As Business Manager of Local 43, he stressed community involvement to his members. And as International President he initiated “The Union of Hearts and Minds” theme which highlights those members devoting their time, effort and money in their community, and encourages other members to get involved.

“You can’t continually take from a community,” Brother Barry said, “you have to keep contributing things back to it.. ..The IBEW belongs to our community and we want to participate in it in every way possible.” And through volunteering time to the Red Cross, Little Leagues, volunteer fire departments; giving money to charitable causes and donating expertise in the wiring of buildings for those in need, the membership has responded.

Brother Barry has also worked as President to stress the dual goals of organizing and education. He said he wanted this generation of electrical workers to be that much farther along than the last generation. And the next generation should be a notch higher than that. Building strength in the union by organizing the unorganized work force and continuing education throughout a worker’s career are the ways President Barry sees to move the Brotherhood forward.

Paralleling organizing is the goal of increasing membership. He said, “we’ve taken our lumps over the last few years, just like all unions have. But we can’t sit around and lament our losses, we have to do something positive to get back in the ball game.” And with that he told of a new organizing plan he will announce later in August.

President Barry said that within 10 years he was confident the IBEW would count well over a million workingmen and –women as members. He said the trends in the economy, the sophistication of the industry, and the strength of the foundation of 100 years of Brotherhood all pointed that way. He said the more successful the union becomes, the more people will want to associate with it.

Before he finished talking, John J. Barry looked out his window. He could almost make out a softball game going on in front of the White House. He seemed to follow a long drive into the outfield and to watch the player circling the diamond. President Barry loosened his tie a little more and continued his work.