In 1916, Goodwin moved to Trail, British Columbia, where he worked as a "smelter man" for the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Limited. The same year he joined the Mining and Smelter workers Union where he was elected as Secretary for the Trail chapter. Following his involvement with trade unions, Goodwin entered politics running as a candidate for the Socialist Party of Canada in the 1916 British Columbian election representing Trail. Although he did not win, Goodwin carried on with his union activity. The following year he was elected to the executive of the British Columbia Federation of Labour as Vice-President, and as the President of District 6 (Kootenays) of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers.