Bustamantee Industrial Trade Union - 2021 Labour Day Message

The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) joins with the nation in observing the celebration of National Labour Day on Monday, May 24, 2021, as well as the events associated with Workers Week, May 16-24.

Right Hon.  Sir Alexander Bustamentee
National Hero,
Founder of the
BITU

In 1938, under the patronage of the late National Hero and Founding Father of the Nation’s Labour Movement, the Rt. Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, the BITU was founded and set out on the dedicated task of taking care of the welfare of Jamaica’s workers.

 The union, which bears the name of one of the Caribbean’s greatest labour and political leaders, contributed to the rise in the wage structure in the island, as well as the consequent improvements in the standard of living, including the benefits of an annual vacation and sick leave with pay for the workers, which was introduced through its efforts.

In Jamaica, Labour Day continues to exemplify the dignity of labour and the importance of volunteerism towards community development, as we join together as Jamaicans to utilize our energies in the creation of a prosperous and successful nation making an enormous impact on the world, much greater than could be expected from its small size.

Kavan Gayle CD
President -
BITU

At this time, the BITU recognizes the value of the workers’ efforts in continuing to make tremendous sacrifices for the growth and development of the nation, largely characterized in their annual contribution to the celebration of Labour Day.

The BITU is mindful of the fact that COVID-19 has become disruptive in the lives of workers, globally, and has been calling for various changes at the workplace, both physical and psychological, to protect their interests.

Workers have ignored their own safety and vulnerability in facing the challenges of the pandemic, to ensure that lives are saved and economies are able to rebound after this dreaded period, and the task of rebuilding lives and economies can fully resume.

However, the union is calling for more consultations between the representatives of the employers and the workers, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and possibly through the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) to ensure that no one is left behind in the rebuilding efforts.

We are also calling for increased education and training for workers, as exemplified in the recent Order for the Montego Bay By-pass project which is the first National Development Project under the new standards, to enable workers to become better trained and certified. This will certainly improve their chances of gaining re-employment and earning more substantial wages to improve their lives as well as their families’.

We believe that more consultations will create a better environment for cooperation between trades unions and employers, as well as improve the chances of success in terms of our economic and social recovery.

We will continue to seek equitable treatment in terms of the returns on the investment of the workers’ labour and skills, to ensure that they obtain optimum benefits from the post-COVID development of our country, both economically and socially, and are able to share the rewards of their input.

We look forward to the fruitful and beneficial results expected from this year’s celebration of Labour, and wish for all workers and their families God’s richest blessing and protection against the challenges to their health and welfare.

Editor's note: For a number of years now the focus for Labour Day is to work rather than recognizing the struggles and achievements of the workers and looking at the workers as an important asset of any organization. It is good to see some union leaders are ensuring that the real meaning of Labour Day is not lost.