Soso
06-05-04, - 09:11 PM
Dennis A. Britton Jr.
President
Bahamas Gaming & Allied Workers Union
Labour Day Speech - June 2, 2004
Ladies, Gentlemen, and members of the General Public, good morning!
Labour Day is here again! Do we realize the significance of this day or is it just another day off with pay or overtime? I hope that every Bahamian views this day with pride and adoration because it is directly linked with the independence many of us enjoy today. Bahamians should take this time to reflect and remember our forefathers who made it possible to have standardized benefits such as holiday pay, minimum wage, and maternity benefits.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to forget whence we came and the struggle it took to achieve our freedom. Great events such as the Airport Strike, the Burma Road Riot of 1957 and the General Strike brought the Bahamian people together and which also led for the fight for our independence and the establishment of our own constitution, which guarantees basic rights for all Bahamians. Bahamians are now safeguarded from a once predominantly master and slave mentality of the past. We must never allow ourselves to be placed in this predicament again which so many great Bahamians fought to hard to achieve, such as Sir Randol Fawkes (whom we honor today), Sir Lyden Pindling, Sir Clifford Darling , Percy Christie and many others who have worked diligently behind the scenes.
During my primary and high school years I remember learning more about the Arawaks and the Caribes than current Bahamian history. No emphasis was placed on the great struggles and events ushering in independence and equality for all Bahamians.
.
The Struggle continues ....................................................
We’ve been delivered from physical slavery but as Bahamians we must now fight against economic slavery especially in workplaces throughout this country. There are some unscrupulous employers who do not want to compensate employees fairly for their labor while infringing on the benefits that employees enjoy today.
As a young trade unionist, I’ve experienced many challenges with the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino as the Labour laws seem to provide little or no protection for Bahamian workers or the*small man*.
Many of the Labour laws look good on paper but when put to the test are weak and indecisive. For example, the Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union has been recognized by the government on the one hand but the industrial Relations Laws of the Bahamas are not being enforced by the government on the other. The Union asks the question ‘who is in charge of the country? Is it the government or the employer?
But we’re all here today because the Struggle Continues ....................
Investments and investors are required in order to expand our economical growth but they must understand and comply with the laws of this great country and deal with their employees justly. The government should protect the rights of Bahamian workers if they are truly the servants of the Bahamian people.
The Struggle continues....................................................................... .............................
Unions are the voice of the Bahamian workers and we will never give up the struggle. Unions will continue to fight for the rights of workers in our Bahama land so with that I say, let’s not forget our past, let’s build on our forefathers visions by pressing forward, upward, onward, and together where harmony, equality and justice prevails throughout the work places in our great country!
Thank you
Dennis A. Britton Jr.
President
Bahamas Gaming & Allied Workers Union
P. O. Box F-43070
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
Email: dennisbrittonjr@coralwave.com
President
Bahamas Gaming & Allied Workers Union
Labour Day Speech - June 2, 2004
Ladies, Gentlemen, and members of the General Public, good morning!
Labour Day is here again! Do we realize the significance of this day or is it just another day off with pay or overtime? I hope that every Bahamian views this day with pride and adoration because it is directly linked with the independence many of us enjoy today. Bahamians should take this time to reflect and remember our forefathers who made it possible to have standardized benefits such as holiday pay, minimum wage, and maternity benefits.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to forget whence we came and the struggle it took to achieve our freedom. Great events such as the Airport Strike, the Burma Road Riot of 1957 and the General Strike brought the Bahamian people together and which also led for the fight for our independence and the establishment of our own constitution, which guarantees basic rights for all Bahamians. Bahamians are now safeguarded from a once predominantly master and slave mentality of the past. We must never allow ourselves to be placed in this predicament again which so many great Bahamians fought to hard to achieve, such as Sir Randol Fawkes (whom we honor today), Sir Lyden Pindling, Sir Clifford Darling , Percy Christie and many others who have worked diligently behind the scenes.
During my primary and high school years I remember learning more about the Arawaks and the Caribes than current Bahamian history. No emphasis was placed on the great struggles and events ushering in independence and equality for all Bahamians.
.
The Struggle continues ....................................................
We’ve been delivered from physical slavery but as Bahamians we must now fight against economic slavery especially in workplaces throughout this country. There are some unscrupulous employers who do not want to compensate employees fairly for their labor while infringing on the benefits that employees enjoy today.
As a young trade unionist, I’ve experienced many challenges with the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino as the Labour laws seem to provide little or no protection for Bahamian workers or the*small man*.
Many of the Labour laws look good on paper but when put to the test are weak and indecisive. For example, the Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union has been recognized by the government on the one hand but the industrial Relations Laws of the Bahamas are not being enforced by the government on the other. The Union asks the question ‘who is in charge of the country? Is it the government or the employer?
But we’re all here today because the Struggle Continues ....................
Investments and investors are required in order to expand our economical growth but they must understand and comply with the laws of this great country and deal with their employees justly. The government should protect the rights of Bahamian workers if they are truly the servants of the Bahamian people.
The Struggle continues....................................................................... .............................
Unions are the voice of the Bahamian workers and we will never give up the struggle. Unions will continue to fight for the rights of workers in our Bahama land so with that I say, let’s not forget our past, let’s build on our forefathers visions by pressing forward, upward, onward, and together where harmony, equality and justice prevails throughout the work places in our great country!
Thank you
Dennis A. Britton Jr.
President
Bahamas Gaming & Allied Workers Union
P. O. Box F-43070
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
Email: dennisbrittonjr@coralwave.com