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Offline Organic

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Labour day -Trinidad and tobago
« on: June 19, 2008, 05:45:07 AM »
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.
Perhaps the epitome of a Trinidadian is the child in the third row class with a dark skin and crinkly plaits who looks at you out of decidedly Chinese eyes and announces herself as Jacqueline Maharaj.- Merle Hodge

Offline weary1969

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Re: Labour day -Trinidad and tobago
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2008, 09:24:55 AM »
Nice rundown u could add 2007 d  rebirth of FPATT
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Labour day -Trinidad and tobago
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2015, 09:49:26 PM »
This man had the most impact in T&T Labor movement.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/6R67mrbuHhk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/6R67mrbuHhk</a>

 

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