Bermuda Unions

JaNiquon Robinson
Preserve Our Heritage

Nathan Dill
15th October, 2015
Trade Unions of Bermuda promoting solidarity

During a time when wages were low, hours were long and safety regulations
were virtually non-existent, employees organized to address these issues. In short,
unions enabled workers to gain input and decision-making. Unions are organizations
that negotiate with corporations, businesses and other organizations on behalf of
union members. There are trade unions, which represent workers who do a
particular type of job, and industrial unions, which represent workers in a particular
industry. Over time, however, unions have spread into other industries. Unions are
often associated with the "old economy": companies that operate in heavily
regulated environments. The Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Bermuda Public
Services Union, and Bermuda Industrial Union over the years have been credited
with securing improvements in working conditions and wages in Bermuda. All three
of these unions have promoted solidarity and shown resilience in their act of
improving the rights for Bermudas workforces.
The B.U.T (Bermuda Union of Teachers) formed in 1919, not only holds the
distinction of being Bermudas oldest union, but it is the second oldest union in the
Commonwealth. The profession of teaching is undeniably important in any country
but during the 1900s, black teachers were specifically being poorly paid and
undertreated. During the early 1900s, Bermuda Union of Teachers experienced
traumatic events when they loss 3 fellow school teachers. These deaths were
explained as not the death of three teachers but the death of three schools [Alvin
Williams 30]. In the words of Miss Adele Tucker, with this third death, a blaze was
kindled [Alvin Williams 30]. Black education, throughout those times, was built on
JaNiquon Robinson
Nathan Dill
15th October, 2015
the backs of the munificence and sacrifice of a few individuals, as teachers were
more or so like institutions themselves. With all teachers being aware of the
governments mistreatment and underappreciation, it was at the passing of the
third teacher that ignited the beginning of the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT).
During the 1920s teaching was one of the few jobs black Bermudians, mostly
woman, were allowed to pursue. The formation of teacher unionization allowed
teachers to have a stronger voice in professional matters. This was during an era
when high schools charged fees to attend the school. Though High Schools no
longer charge, the B.U.T continue to uphold their solidarity by offering scholarships
to underprivileged children within the community, to attend college overseas.
Though it was not justified, the union continued with meetings such as the Imperial
Hotel on Church Street, St. Pauls A.M.E Church in Hamilton, Alaska Hall on Court
Street, Brunswick Hall on Brunswick Street and many more [Alvin Williams 31].
The Bermuda Public Services Union BPSU was established in 1952 as the
Civil Service Association (CSA) and changed its name in 1971[Alvin Williams 42]. It
was concerns about the working conditions and disgruntlement that formally led to
the beginning of the Civil Service Association. Their objectives were: to secure the
greatest measure of co-operation between the Government in its capacity as
employer and the general body of Civil Servants in matters affecting the Civil
Service: to provide ways and means from the general principles governing
conditions of service, that is its recruitment, tenure, hours of duty, conduct,
promotion, remuneration and to enhance efficiency in the public service by bringing
together the experience and different points of view of members of the service. A
statement issued on behalf of the group that said, "Recognizing the importance of
JaNiquon Robinson
Nathan Dill
15th October, 2015
its Civil Service establishments to the smooth and efficient operation of any country,
and being gravely concerned over the fact that it was becoming increasingly
difficult to induce qualified young men and women to enter the Civil Service of
Bermuda.[Our History-Bermuda Public Service Union 2015] This quote supports
the BPSU in upholding their solidarity of their country. Discussion was brewing
within the Civil Service in 1950 about wage concerns. They knew that their wages
were not comparable to private businesses, and many discussions on this issue took
place in the House of Assembly. After much controversy, in April 1952 a new wage
scale was presented to the Assembly by Mr. Dudley Spurling, Chairmen of the Civil
Service Committee [43]. Very little is known about the position of the CSA between
1953 and 1961. In actual fact the trade union almost came to a standstill after the
death of the father of Trade Unionism in Bermuda, Dr. E.F. Gordon in 1955 [History
of the B.P.S.U 2015] It was not until early 1961 that a group of Senior Civil
Servants made strides to reactivate the Association. Policemen and teachers had
their own unions, so the objective of C.S.A. was to encourage all eligible employees
to join so that the Association could become the main representative for all
Government employees. The reactivation of the Association was the name change
to Bermuda Civil Services Association (B.C.S.A.) in September 1961. Throughout the
history of the B.P.S.U resilience has endlessly been shown after being rejected
countless of times over the years. The B.P.S.U has continuously fought for the rights
of workers and has helped to improve the conditions of government workers and
have gave means of expression for workers views on problems of society and
politics.
JaNiquon Robinson
Nathan Dill
15th October, 2015
Bermudian workers made sporadic attempts to organize themselves since
the 1800's, and in 1919, the Bermuda Union of Teachers was formed. But it was the
Bermuda Workers Association (BWA), founded in 1944, that paved the way for
change that went beyond improved working conditions for Bermudian workers. The
BWA, later to become the Bermuda Industrial Union, was the vehicle through which
Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon, the "father of trade unionism" parlayed his
considerable leadership ability to win legal recognition for unions and to lay the
groundwork for the political transformation of Bermuda that came after his death in
1955. In 1944, Gordon became president of the Bermuda Workers' Association
(BWA) were he fought for trade union rights, was committed to the removal of
segregation and the acceptance of universal adult suffrage. Following his death on
April 20, 1955 of a heart attack at age 60, the BIU membership had declined
because of prosperity brought on by the post-war tourism. The BWA was formed by
a group of Bermudian workers, Gerald Brangman, Robert Austin Wilson and William
Davis among them. The Bermuda Industrial Union stands in solidarity being
effective advocates when it comes to representing, and defending the interests of
their members. The B.I.Us mission statement reads, To secure the complete
organization in the Union of all workers (employees) employed in trades, industries,
crafts and occupations. To obtain and maintain just and proper salaries, wages,
rates of pay, hours of work and other conditions of employment, and generally to
protect and advance the interest of employees in general. Regulate the relations
between Employees and Employers and between the workers [History of the
B.I.U 2015].
Unions are a critical element of a free and democratic society. These trade
unions have played an important role and are helpful in effective communication
JaNiquon Robinson
Nathan Dill
15th October, 2015
between the workers and their management. They provide the advice and support
to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central
function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider
role in protecting their interests. The Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Public
Service Union and The Bermuda industrial union have all played an important role in
Bermudas history. All three of these unions have promoted solidarity and shown
resilience in their act of improving the rights for Bermudas workforces.

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JaNiquon Robinson

Preserve Our Heritage

Trade Unions of Bermuda promoting solidarity

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