A Historical Timeline of The Labour Movement in Trinidad and Tobago
1897 to 2004
1897 March 1st: twenty one year old Charles Phillip forms The Working Men’s Reform Club.
1897 Port of Spain druggist, Walter Mills forms the Trinidad Working Men’s Association (TWA) to represent skilled black urban workers.
1902 Establishment of the Rate-Payers Association (R.P.A.).
1910 TWA establishes links with British Labour Party.
1916 Establishment of the East Indian Destitute League by Mohammed Orfy.
1917 End of East Indian immigration.
Strike of oil and asphalt leads to the arrest and imprisonment of five leaders under wartime defence regulations.
1919-1922 Dockworkers strike leads to nationwide labour unrest.
1921-1922 The Wood Commission visits the West Indies to make recommendations on constitutional reform in the colonies. It recommended elected members in Trinidad’s Legislative Council.
1922 The TWA Begins publication of a paper, the Labour Leader.
1923 Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani becomes president of the TWA. The TWA agitated for the recognition of trade unions, an eight-hour workday, overtime pay, workmen’s compensation and improved working conditions, as well as for greater self- government and constitutional reform.
1925 In Trinidad’s first National Elections, Cipriani won the Port of Spain seat with an overwhelming majority. He held the seat until his death in 1945.
1932 The Trade Union Ordinance is enacted, making it possible for trade unions to be legally registered and recognized.
1934 TWA renamed the Trinidad Labour Party to indicate that it had become a political party instead of registering as a trade union.
Sugar workers stage protests and hunger march from Caroni to Port of Spain. 1934 – Formation of the National Unemployed Movement (NUM) by Jim Headly, Dudley Mahon and Elma Francois.
Formation of the socialist Negro Welfare, Cultural and Social Association (NWA).
1935 Workers at Apex Oilfields go on strike in March; this was the beginning of Butler’s emergence as a working class Leader. Butler and Adrian "Cola" Rienzi form the Trinidad Citizens League.
1936 Butler leaves the Trinidad Labour Party (TLP) to form his own party.
1937 June 18th: Oil workers at Forest Reserve under Butler’s leadership began strike action. The attempt to arrest Butler on charges of inciting breeches of the peace sparks widespread riots and unrest. Two policemen, Corporal Charlie King and Sub-Inspector Bradburn were killed in Fyzabad. Nine civilians were killed and fifty were wounded.
September – The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) becomes the first registered trade union in Trinidad.
November – All Trinidad Sugar Estate and Factory Workers Trade Union (ATSEFWTU) is registered. Rienzi is elected president of both OWTU and ATSEFWTU. Federated Workers Trade Union (FWTU) and Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) registered under the 1932 Ordinance.
1937-1938 Further Disturbances among workers in British Guiana, Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica.
1938 Trade Disputes Ordinance established an arbitration tribunal to provide machinery for the settlement of disputes after collective bargaining had broke down. By the end of1938 there were ten trade unions in Trinidad, more than in any other West Indian colony.
1938-1939 West India Royal Commission by Lord Moyne investigates conditions in the colonies. It recommended more British Government effort into promoting "development and welfare" and moderate constitutional change.
1939 Establishment of the Trade Union Congress. Rienzi elected first president.
1939 Government amends 1932 Ordinance to legalize peaceful picketing and give unions immunity from actions for damages arising out of strikes.
1939-1945 World War II. Butler detained. Boom in oil industry. Establishment of US bases in Trinidad create heightened expectation among working class as many experience better personnel practices and working condition.
1945 Butler released and hailed as a hero of the working class. Death of Cipriani.
1946 First election with full adult suffrage. Butler loses to Albert Gomes in Port of Spain for a seat in the Legislative Council.
1947 JANUARY – Supporters of Butler stage a march on the Red House- rioting and unrest in Port of Spain.
1947 Sugar workers strike for higher wages.
1950 Butler party excluded from executive council as Gomes heads "quasi-ministerial" administration.
1957 Formation of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
1959 Establishment of the Industrial Development Corporation.
1962 Trinidad and Tobago becomes the second British West Indian colony to gain independence. Dr. Eric Williams becomes first Prime Minister.
1965 C.L.R. James forms the Workers and Farmers Party with George Weekes and Stephen Maharaj. WFP loses general election.
1970Black Power uprising led by university students and unemployed youth. Annual Register of Trade Unions reports that there are 136 trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago
1973
June 19, the anniversary of the Butler Riots, was declared an annual national holiday and celebrated as Labour Day.
1975 800,000 man days of productive works days lost due to strike, sick-outs, go-slows and industrial action.
1984 George Weeke’s retirement severe blow to workers struggle.
1985 Act to prescribe the procedure to be followed in the event of redundancy and to provide for severance payments to retrenched workers.
1990 Contractors and General Trade Union (CGTU) wins 7% wage hike for Asphalt workers.
2004 Protesting NWRHA workers storm administration building at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt. Hope, demanding letters for permanent workers.
