(Photo by Sister Valerie Ming) BERMUDA'S FIRST LABOUR DAY MARRED BY INDIFFERENT GOVT. Bermuda's first ever Labour Day holiday will go down in history as yet another day in which the workers' organisations of Bermuda came together in a show of solidarity. But that day was different For on that day, the workers were not protesting against the em­ ployers or the Government; they were not out to embarrass or put pressure on anyone; they were not marching to demonstrate that labour is a powerful institution in these islands. No. On that day the workers were gathered together to celebrate the acknowledgement of their contribution to the prosperity of this country. After having been denied that recognition for so long. In spite of the Bermuda Government's blatant boycott of the planned festivities and the VOL 11. NO. 23. Price: 15 cents. UBP's "family picnic" (arranged to compete against the Labour Day march), thousands of workers Hamilton, Bermuda - Friday, Sept. 17, 1982 converged on Union Square on the morning of Monday, September 6, to take part in the threemile walk to Bernard Park. The day's activities got off to a start with a and the marchers set off, their ranks punctuated prayer from tiie Reverend Larry Lowe (pastor by the various banners of the groups and organ­ Founders Banquet of St. Paul's AME church). This was followed isations which were participating. by brief remarks from overseas guests (listed It had been planned that the march would When the Bemnida Industrial Union held its stop en route at various sites in the City of Ham­ Founders Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the elsewhere), and by BIU president Brother Otti­ well Simmons. ilton which had been the scenes of historical in­ Sonesta Hotel, no fewer than 23 names were cidents in the labour movement of Bermuda. caUed for honourable mention. After some slight delay, the lines were formed On this occasion which was held to coincide STRIKES, PROTESTS & BOYCOTTS with Bermuda's first Labour Day, 13 individuals The first stop made was outside St. Paul's who were among the first members of the BIU AME church, where the Amalgamated Bermuda way back in the late 1940s, were on hand to re­ Union of Teachers (the oldest Union in ceive commemorative cedar pins, carved by the formed in the 30's) used to meet in the old master craftsman Brother John Davis. church hall. Brothers Wycliffe Stovell, Gerald Brangman, Further up Court Street, the marchers paused A. B. Place and Sam Samuels, and Sisters Althea again, outside the building known as Bollocks DePina and Aim Pindar were unable to attend. Building, where the founding members met and "deceased members included Dr. Edgar Fitzger- formed themselves into Bermuda's first political —aid Gordon, Brothers Leonard Bascome, Charles party, the Progressive Labour Party, in 1963. Morton, Sr. and WiUiam Davis. A stop had been planned outside Alexandrina Those who came forward to a thunderous Hall, next to the Salvation Army hall on Court round of applause were: Sisters Rosalie Douglas Street. For this was the site of the first Bermuda and lona MaxweU, Brothers Martin WUson, AUan Industrial Union Delegates' Conference held in RusseU, Austin Wilson, John Davis, Robert Van­ 1958. derpool, Clarence Trott, W. E. R. JoeU, Charles But the marchers did not pause there. They Bean, Carl Wade, Carl Bassett and Lionel Jean- FOUNDERS BANQUET. Among the head table marched straight on down to Front Street and Jacques. notables at the BIU Founders Banquet were Mr. along that street, until they came to No. 1 Shed liie presentation foUowed the keynote ad­ and Mrs. Andrew Young and BIU President Otti­ on the docks. Once more the march came to a dress by Atianta Mayor Andrew Young (see page well Simmons (left). Mr. Young was the keynote halt whilst, over, the public address system, the 4 for first part). speaker. (Photo by Brother Irving Carey) (Continued on page 3) ^ WHY THE U.B.P. WANTS TO The Workers Voice Published and Printed by KNOCK JOHN SWAN... THE BERMUDA INDUSTRIAL UNION Hamilton, Bermuda The front page stories carried by two local es­ tablishment newspapers recently, concerning By OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Editor Barbara B. Ball premier John Swan and his reputed aide, un­ Assistants ..Lionel Pearman and Doreen Lightbourn wittingly offered the community an acute in­ "behind the premier's back", while he was General Council Representatives: sight Into the interna! power structure of the abroad and seemingly, was neither forewarned George Baisden, Austin Thomas & Kenyetta Young UBP. The story carried by "The Sun", must of it, prior to his return, nor shielded from the Telephone: 2-0044, Ext. 121 have represented the most astonishing allegation press when he did arrive later that day at the ^ of impropriety ever "officially" launched against Civil Air Terminal. ,[ v FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 17,1982 a Government leader since 1968. In addition to this, the UBP's long-standing '^ Firstly, at a time when no official decision on practice of retaining foreign consultants was this year's status recipients had even been an­ challenged in another context, earlier the same nounced, the story implied that the premier had week. RACISM SEEN ON rewarded a loyal servant by ensuring that he ob­ BIASED REPORTING tained status. Secondly, there is the suggestion One should not be beguiled into following the that the non-Bermudlan advisor's legal right to Pied Pipering of newspapers, who never attack LABOUR DAY! advise the premier is questionable. the real wielders of power in Bermuda. It would Thirdly, there is the indication that certain be far more instructive to calmly contemplate The dust of the marchers (some 2,000 of UBP members were unhappy about the prem­ the possible answers to question such as the ihem) has settled; the songs and the speeches ier's having such a personal advisor. Fourthly, following: are now a part of history. there is the fact that this story was published 1. Since when have the establishment press But the memory of Bermuda's first Labour been so eager to accuse UBP leaders of impro­ Day holiday (Monday, September 6) will remain priety? fresh in the minds of those who participated. 2. Since when has the establishment press Those persons who served on the Joint Lab­ been so eager to scrutinize the basis on which our Day Committee worked hard in an effort to particular individuals have been granted status? make that day one which ALL workers in Ber­ Leffers to 3. Why should the granting of status to any muda could celebrate, in a spirit of together­ individual by the supposedly non-political Status ness and a general resolution to go forward to­ Committee, cause a stink in the UBP branches? gether. fhe Editor 4. Why should there have been rumblings Unfortunately, some members of the UBP within the UBP about the premier having a per­ Government demonstrated a complete unaware- sonal advisor? ness of the solidarity of purpose felt by most It may not be accidental that John Swan is workers in Bermuda. Or else they were aware not only the first, black, Bermudian-born pre­ Dear Madam, and feared such solidarity. Sheer pettiness and mier, but also the first black to aggressively The Labour Day march and other events put on by a complete lack of understanding led certain of make a grab for the UBP leadership, as opposed the Joint Labour Day Committee was a historical spec­ them to indulge in a childish "tantrum". Like to meekly waiting to be nominated by the real tacular. I therefore offer congratulations and commen­ spoiled children who cannot get ^eir way, they powers-that-be. dations to the Committee for a job well done. stamped a collective foot and declared, in ess­ It may not be coincidental that the premier's ence, "If I can't say what game we're going to Unfortunately, however, the United Bermuda Party reputed aide is a non-white "expat", from an play, then I won't play. And I'll start a little (Government) chose to-mark Labour Day by holding independent non-white family, who is not a game of my own in competition!" a picnic (drinking party) at Ferry Reach. creature of the white inner sanctum of the UBP. The result was that, while several thousand The UBP "picnic" divided the loyalties of the com­ It may be significant that, since John Swan workers took part in the Labour Day march munity, in that, I believe, many more than the estim­ snatched the premiership, he has continued to and the events at Bernard Park, according to a ated 5,000 would have been at Bernard's Park, but cultivate such a popular personal following that • ) reliable source, only about 30 to 50 persons many stayed away because the UBP claimed the Unions he may soon wield sufficient political clout in ^=^ joined In the UBP "game" at Ferry Reach. were politicking. his own right, to be able to stand up to the But even more distressing, was the absence I was on the march and at the park. I did not see white inner sanctum of the UBP, rather than be­ of any number of white workers on the march any politics. What I did see, was a most professional ing their puppet. And the UBP branches could and at Bernard Park. singer in Mrs. Joy Blackett, the goddaughter of the late only be concerned about why any particular Can it be that all the white workers in Ber­ Dr. E.F.Gordon, the mayor of Atlanta, Mr Andrew individual has been granted status, if they nor­ muda do not think of themselves as "workers"? Young and several other speakers and some classic Ber­ mally have some say in what should be a non­ Because most of them draw "salaries" as op­ mudian entertainment.