17/06/2026
LABOUR DAY 2026
After fourteen years in the Labour movement, and with my stewardship coming to an end, as new endeavors and new adventures beckon, I thought this Labour Day I would just express a few general thoughts in passing.
A phenomenon, which has struck me over the years is the lack of knowledge, regarding the historical struggle of labour and the working class leading to the development of the Trade Union Movement.
While the Camboulay Riots 1881/1884 and the 1937 Riots are well known, and perhaps to a lesser extent Bloody Tuesday 1975, most people go with the normal time worn cliches and accepted narrative perpetuated before Labour Day, which while accurate within itself, continues to negate the contribution of many unsung events and heroes of the working class. There some, even among the Movement who seem to believe that 1937 happened as if by magic, nothing existed before, and labour struggle began in 1937. It is for this reason, I often reflect on some of the events that occurred before 1937, in order to allow for a more balanced look at the development of working-class struggle, which was entwined with the cultural side of the working-class masses. Aside from the Camboulay Riots which are well documented, we must take a glance at other events as well.
The 23rd March, 1903 water riots, left 16 persons killed and 42 injured as mass protest took place over new water rates and metering ordinances. The Red House itself was set on fire and showed a people standing against perceived injustice from those in authority.
The Dock workers strike of 1919 was a crucial cornerstone in helping to lay the foundation for industrial action in Trinidad and Tobago. Led by the Trinidad Workingmen’s Association, which agitated for higher wages, an eight-hour work day and overtime pay.
On December 1, 1919, workers attacked warehouses, attacked scab labour and protested throughout Port of Spain. The TWA became a political force as well, seeking labour reform and equality among the races.
People should be aware of the Hosay riots of October 1884, in what historians describe as the bloodiest massacre to take place in Trinidad and Tobago under British rule. On October 30th 1884, 22 Indians were killed and 120 other individuals seriously injured including women and children in a hail of police gunfire at two Hosay processions in San Fernando.
It began when on the 30th July 1884, the Governor proclaimed a regulation prohibiting Hosay processions from entering San Fernando, with a penalty of six months imprisonment with hard labour and a fine of 20 pounds is imposed for those found infringing the Ordinance.
On Thursday October 30th 1884 police teams were posted at the three main entrances to the town of San Fernando, Cross Crossing, the Toll Gate on Cipero St. and at the Naparima Mayaro Rd. junction in Mon Repos. Close to noon, almost eight thousand celebrating hosay, made of mostly Indians but also including persons of African descent, Muslims, Hindus and even some Christians approached Cross Crossing, when they are about 100 feet away, the police fired two volleys and random scattered shots into the crowd which broke rank and fled into the cane field, leaving six dead and dozens injured.
At Mon Repos, two thousand plus Indians approached, the Riot Act was read and firing commenced, leaving five dead and 40 wounded, many of the wounded are loaded into carts and taken to the Colonial Hospital. Some died there and were hastily buried in trenches dug at Paradise Cemetery along with those killed in the shooting.
It was the first time that such a large, armed military force assembled in colonial Trinidad, or in any other West Indian colony, at a cultural event. This was working class unity at its best, people of different races and religions, banding together to ensure that one group could celebrate their heritage as they saw fit.
Between the 1880’s to 1917 there were 52 strikes and demonstrations in the sugar industry as workers demanded better treatment and better conditions of work.
As far back as 1847 on the Carolina Estate an overseer was attacked for mistreating workers.
In 1882 on the Cedar Hill, El Socorro and Naparima Estates major strikes took place as workers fought for their rights and in 1890 you had strikes on the Golconda Estate.
In 1884 strikes took place on the Mondesir Estate and in 1900 on the Harmony Hall Estate, sixty-four workers were sentenced to 20 days imprisonment and their leader Daulat Singh was sent back to India.
In 1919 when Trinidad and Tobago was swept by a wave of strikes, sugar workers at Couva, Esperanza, Cunupia, Chaguanas and D’Abadie estates downed tools also, refused to work and demanded better wages and better conditions.
In July 1934 the Indian Estates Labour Disturbances broke out in central Trinidad and quickly spread throughout the length and breadth of the sugar industry as 15000 sugar workers downed tools and led riots, violent protest, strikes, arson, telephone wires cut to disrupt communications, policemen beaten up, stores looted and hunger marches, in a bid to highlight their plight to those in authority.
The causes of these protests were unemployment, low wages, terrible working conditions, late payment of wages, a lack of credit facilities and a drought that made work extremely difficult.
It began when 800 workers from the Brechin castle, and Esperanza estates, mainly women, went down to the warden office in Couva demanding work and food. Violence erupted, the police were attacked and dry goods stores were looted as people helped themselves to food stuff and other commodities. Twelve people were arrested.
This was the spark that set the flames of protest that spread through Trinidad and saw riots and protest taking place in the sugar belt from estates in north Trinidad, such as orange grove, to Woodford lodge, Perseverance, Caroni, Waterloo, Sevilla, Phoenix Park, Cottage, Milton, Rivulet, and Forres Park to name a few.
In many instances Indians attacked drivers, managers and overseers. L.S. Dougall and A.E. Mitchell, manager and head overseer of the Esperanza estate were attacked and seriously injured by workers and at the Caroni Estates Limited an overseer was injured, and the offices of the company stoned and set on fire. On the Brechin Castle estate a driver and his son were beaten by a weeding gang and on the spring estate in Balmain women workers attacked the manager with hoes.
The 1934 riots introduced working class radicalism into the politics and into the struggle for bread and butter and work, which was to subsequently culminate in the riots of 1937 and the Butler Oil workers riots which spread throughout seventy-two areas in the Colony of Trinidad and paralyzed the Country.
To understand 1937, is to grasp that it did not happen in a vacuum, but was the culmination of working-class struggle, ongoing for many years.
I often feel sympathy for present day Trade Unionists who are condemned for not behaving as their predecessors of 1930’s to the 1970’s did, when the truth is that the circumstances were different and workers at that time enjoyed few rights if any at all. It was therefore easier to mobilize and motivate workers, to fight for rights they never had, rights and privileges that workers today enjoy and some may say, even take for granted. As a result of the Trade Union Movement, employed persons today enjoy, pension, annual vacation leave, bereavement leave, casual days, sick leave, maternity leave, minimum wages legislation, health and safety legislation, an Industrial Court, grievance procedures, collective agreements and the list can go on and on.
Therefore, except for individual worker issues and increased wages and legislative reform, there are hardly any employment issues from a collect perspective that Trade Unions can agitate for. Whereas in the past thousands would take to the streets demanding basic rights, today Trade Unions often find themselves agitating alone with a few members, while the majority of workers, relax, continue doing what they have to do, attend work and simply wait for an increase in wages. Which said increase is in itself dependent on many factors, more so in the private sector, and if not satisfied, to the desired extent, the Trade Union is condemned by workers, looking at cable or using their latest expensive cell phone, but certainly going to work the next day.
Added to the sometimes-unfair expectations and unreasonable comparisons with the past, the swaying power of the Trade Union Movement is no doubt undermined by the Political structure, which in Trinidad and Tobago seem to operate on the basis of, if you are not with me, you are against me and one of them. Many workers sacrifice their own interest on the altar of blind political support and the race boogey.
Today in spite of what might be claimed, Trade Union unity is an illusion or for the most part a superficial platitude meaning nothing. Most times the larger Unions dictate the pace, while using the concept of trade Union unity to get their own way and to ensure the smaller unions fall in line and behind them, to give the impression of strength. Collective struggle is over, except for token support, individual Unions have their own localized issues and agendas depending on the Leadership. In fact, the Unity is often sacrificed on the pedestal of petty political rivalry and subjective points of view. The lack of a specific overarching philosophy or ideology, a focal point guiding the movement in both a tangible and intangible way, encourages the separation of the different entities, operating to a large extent in silos rather than as one.
In this context, it is refreshing to see the rise of the Alliance of Progressive Trade Unions, a coming together of smaller Unions attempting to bring back a semblance of objectivity to the movement, whether one agrees with them of not on specific issues, it is an escape requiring courage, yet ensuring a break from having one or two large unions act and dictate the pace as if they alone are the Trade Union Movement.
I remember in 2018 telling my colleagues that in order to make a powerful statement, all trade unionist siting on Board positions, should immediately resign, shut down the Boards and force the government to speak with us. There were no takers and even today, seemingly many Trade Unionist see Board positions as another way of getting an extra income. It is almost as if Board positions are often used appeasement, support and for some a job.
I do think individual Unions within the Movement have also lost the plot and will support one of the two major political parties interchangeable simply to ensure patronage and handouts come their way, regardless of the consequences. Again, I remember advocating the view over the years that win, lose or draw, the Movement should unite as a body, target 7 marginal constituencies and throw the full weight of the Movement behind these 7 constituencies and if it seemed that we could cause one of the Parties to win or lose, somebody had to speak to us. Not surprisingly, there were no takers.
The truth is, the more things change, the more they remain the same. The politics of race and patronage, will triumph over rational, logic and objectivity everytime, it is simply human nature. It is impossible to change the fanatic or the fool, for the less people know, the more confident they are in their belief system and will defend it to the end, in the face of all reason to the contrary. If we could honestly answer the question “if Trinidad and Tobago was one race of people, what criteria would you use to vote a political party” then maybe, the beginning of the beginning of change may come. I wonder if it’s too much to ask.
Happy Labour Day 2026 and long live the struggle for bread and peace and justice.
Nirvan Maharaj
(Attorney at Law)
President General
