History of Labour Day

Today is a great day for we "Trini's," it is a day where we stay home and relax and prepare for work as usual on Wednesday morning. But with every great holiday we need to know the history behind it. 

An the history is as follows;

Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago is commemorated annually on June 19. Labour Day was declared an annual holiday back in 1937 to commemorate the day that the Butler Oilfield Riots occurred. The riot was fuelled by the attempted arrest of Tubal Uriah 'Buzz' Butler.

On the morning of June 19th 1937 workers in the Apex Oilfields in Fyzabad took strike action. Within a few hours, it had spread to most oilfields, the word of the strike being relayed by contingents of workers on bicycles.

On the evening of June 19, Butler addressed several hundred workers at Fyzabad. At this gathering, an attempt was made to arrest him. Butler asked the question - "Must I go Comrades?” In an effort to defend and protect their leader the workers responded by attacking the police. During this clash one of the policemen - Charlie King - was killed. The struggle soon became nationwide involving workers from the sugar plantations, as well as those who laboured in Port of Spain.

It is important to realize that the relationship between employers and employees was not a copacetic one. Prior to the creation of the OWTU movement and the Butler Oilfield Riots, issues, such as racism, low wages, abuse, economic depression and a decrease in the standards of living were rampant and as such, there was a need for change which resulted in numerous strikes and riots. The labour unrest in Trinidad and Tobago trickled down through the Caribbean also initiating change in those islands.

Who was Tubal Uriah 'Buzz' Butler?

Tubal Uriah 'Buzz' Butler, a radical Grenada-born trade unionist, played a key role in the development of the labour movement which was/is responsible for collectively representing employees and highlight general discontent in the workplace. Today a statue of Butler stands proudly on Fyzabad Junction (Charlie King Junction), the same place where police attempted to arrest Butler on June 19, which lead to what we know as the one of the most historic riots in Trinidad and Tobago. In recognition of his contribution to Labour reform, Butler was awarded the Trinity Cross, the country’s highest award and the former Princes Margaret Highway, was re-commemorated as Uriah Butler Highway.

Being a student in the field of business, Labour Day is definitely a day whereby workers can think about there working conditions and know if they are right for them but the OSH law(Occupational Health and Safety Act) in Trinidad and Tobago keeps on ensuring that workers are always treated fairly on the job in terms of wages, working conditions etc. I just want to make it very clear that workers can indeed join a trade union and fight for there rights!!!

Come on employers lets make Trinidad and Tobago the ideal location to work in for our citizens!!!!!

Uriah Butler