 His job was eventually to be parcels foreman at Aberdeen railway station, and he was chairman of the employees' side of the sectional council of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway for twelve years.Through his union activities, Balfour became active in the Labour Party, being made a delegate to the Labour Party annual conference, and he served on Aberdeen Town Council from 1941 until he stood down in 1942.It was his prominence in the railway union which led to his selection as Labour candidate for West Stirlingshire at the 1945 general election.