Joe Naylor: A Man of Principle
Joe Naylor (1872-1946) was an often-overlooked but profoundly influential figure in British Columbia’s labour history, remembered as a radical union leader and a committed socialist.
This article is a reprint of one written by journalist Roger Stonebanks and originally published in the “Sunday Island Reader” of the Times Colonist, Sep 21, 1997. Used with permission of the author.
Originally from Wigan, England, Joe Naylor brought his experience of union representation in British mines to Cumberland, Vancouver Island, in 1909, quickly recognizing the non-union state of the local collieries. He rapidly rose to become president of Local 2299 of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), an organization actively working to unionize the island’s coalfields.
His commitment was most evident during the turbulent Vancouver Island coal strike of 1912-14. Naylor is also remembered for his friend, labour martyr Ginger Goodwin whom he mentored in trade unionism.
Despite Naylor’s efforts, the strike ended without union recognition, and he was blacklisted for a decade, highlighting the immense challenges faced by radical union leaders of his time.
During this period, Naylor notably defied the pervasive racism of the era, opposing anti-Asian sentiments common even within unions. Joe Naylor’s life, though often overshadowed by others, exemplifies a principled fight for workers’ rights and social justice on Vancouver Island.