June 2004 IBEW Journal

Retired

Susie A. Barber

An IBEW career that started in a Western Electric plant in Illinois 35 years ago closed out May 1, 2004, with the retirement of International Representative Susie Barber, an activist in trade unionism, civil rights and politics.

Sister Barber was initiated into the IBEW in 1969 as a member of then-Local 1942 in Montgomery, Illinois, which is now Local 21, Downers Grove, Illinois. She served her local in a variety of roles, including chief steward and executive board member. She became an International Representative in 1980, assigned to the Sixth District.

An organizer, she started in manufacturing then telephone and other areas, leading to several years of assignments in Atlanta and at the International Office to work on training other civil rights activists in organizing. She remains a part of the annual march and celebration honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

She has also served in a variety of capacities for the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and as the political analyst for the National Hookup of Black Women, which became an activist group in its own right after starting as something for the wives of civil rights leaders to do in the cities where their husbands gathered for civil rights meetings.

During her time in her current hometown of Joliet, Illinois, Sister Barber has been a leader of the Political Awareness Group and Empowerment. She also serves as a pastor’s aide at Mt. Zion church. Retirement begins with an effort for John Kerry and other IBEW-endorsed candidates.

She and her husband, Donald W. Barber, a retired auditor for Laborers Local 75 in Joliet, have one son, Shadon, a member of IBEW Local 15 who works at Con Edison. The IBEW wishes Sister Barber and her family the best of retirements.

James D. Fraser

James D. Fraser, who became an IBEW member in Canada and served as an International Representative in the United States, retired on May 1, 2004.

An IBEW member for 44 years, Brother Fraser has served as an International Representative in the Second District since 1991. He has served on the CIR, the outside task force and on the convention Treasurer’s Committee. He has also represented the IBEW in the Connecticut State AFL-CIO.

Brother Fraser was born in Englehart, Ontario, and is a graduate of Scollard Hall High School in North Bay, Ontario. He got his BA degree from the Vermont College of Norwich University in Montpelier, Vermont, in 1985 and has also taken advanced arbitration and construction organizing classes at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies.

After three years in the Canadian Army Reserve Tank Corps, he was initiated into then-Local 1788 in Toronto, Ontario, in 1960 and in 1968 transferred his membership to Local 42, Hartford, Connecticut.

He rose through the Local 42 ranks, joining the Executive Board in 1970 and serving as president from 1972 until 1978, when he was chosen as business manager, a post he held for 13 years.

Brother Fraser is a member of Fayette Lodge Masons and as a Sphinx Temple Shriner. He expects retirement to provide more time for hobbies like fishing, flying private planes, golf and pistol shooting. He and his wife, Barbara Ann, have three children.

The entire Brotherhood extends its congratulations and offers best wishes to Brother Fraser on his retirement.

Deceased

John E. Platt

The IBEW regrets to announce the death of John E. Platt, who retired less than six months ago as a First District International Representative. He was 66 when he died April 18, 2004.

Brother Platt’s distinguished contribution to the well-being of railway union members included 10 years as president of the Canadian Signal and Communications Union (CSCU), which merged with the IBEW in 1990. His home was in Ottawa at the time of his death.

A native of England and a product of private schools there, Brother Platt emigrated to Canada when he was 20 years old. His start on working on the railroad was followed closely by the launch of his union career as he became a part-time CSCU officer in 1962. After serving as local business manager, he became president of CSCU in 1980.

In that capacity, he bargained contracts with all of Canada’s carriers on behalf of the signal and communications employees. He brought that union into the Brotherhood in 1990 and became an International Representative in the Tenth District, which at that time was the IBEW railroad district.

Brother Platt said at the time of his retirement that the IBEW strengthened the position of Canadian signal and communications employees from what they had with CSCU, "a very small union." He was a 13-year member of Local 2002, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In his years of service to IBEW, he continued to serve the 19 Canadian railway locals that make up System Council 11, which bargains with all Canadian carriers.

The IBEW extends its deepest sympathy to Brother Platt’s family and friends.

Transitions

Retired

Susie A. Barber

James D. Fraser

Deceased

John E. Platt