Guyana Labour Union
Encyclopedia
The Guyana Labour Union is a trade union
centre in Guyana
, previously known as the British Guiana Labour Union. BGLU emerged as a labour union amongst black dockworkers. It was led by Hubert Critchlow, a popular cricket
player. BGLU soon expanded into a colony-wide labour movement. BGLU was not the first trade union in the Caribbean
, but was the first to be legally registered.
The BLGU functioned both as a trade union and political party
in British Guiana
. It was founded in 1919. As of 1928, the organization claimed to have 1,073 members, out of whom 341 were women. BGLU was linked to the British Labour Party, and affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions
and the Labour and Socialist International
(1924–1940). The organized did not struggle for national independence, but concentrated its struggle on social matters and suffrage rights.
BGLU was joined by A.R.F. Webber.
BGLU took the initiative for cooperation between trade unions in the Caribbean
. At the 1926 BGLU convention, the British Guiana and West Indian Trade Union Confederation was founded. In 1945, BG&WITUC became the Caribbean Labour Congress.
Forbes Burnham
(later the president of Guyana) became president of GLU in 1952, and served until 1956. Burnham again became GLU president 1963-1965. Desmond Hoyte
, who also became president of the country, served as GLU honourary president in the 1980s.
The Guyana Labour Union later became associated with the People's National Congress
. Robert Williams is the general secretary of GLU.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
centre in Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, previously known as the British Guiana Labour Union. BGLU emerged as a labour union amongst black dockworkers. It was led by Hubert Critchlow, a popular cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
player. BGLU soon expanded into a colony-wide labour movement. BGLU was not the first trade union in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, but was the first to be legally registered.
The BLGU functioned both as a trade union and political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
. It was founded in 1919. As of 1928, the organization claimed to have 1,073 members, out of whom 341 were women. BGLU was linked to the British Labour Party, and affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions
International Federation of Trade Unions
The International Federation of Trade Unions was an international organization of trade unions, existing between 1919 and 1945. IFTU had its roots in the pre-war IFTU....
and the Labour and Socialist International
Labour and Socialist International
The Labour and Socialist International was an international organization of socialist and labour parties, active between 1923 and 1940. The LSI was a forerunner of the present-day Socialist International....
(1924–1940). The organized did not struggle for national independence, but concentrated its struggle on social matters and suffrage rights.
BGLU was joined by A.R.F. Webber.
BGLU took the initiative for cooperation between trade unions in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. At the 1926 BGLU convention, the British Guiana and West Indian Trade Union Confederation was founded. In 1945, BG&WITUC became the Caribbean Labour Congress.
Forbes Burnham
Forbes Burnham
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was the leader of Guyana from 1964 until his death, first as Premier from 1964 to 1966, then as the Prime Minister from 1966 to 1980 and finally as President from 1980 to 1985....
(later the president of Guyana) became president of GLU in 1952, and served until 1956. Burnham again became GLU president 1963-1965. Desmond Hoyte
Desmond Hoyte
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was a Guyanese politician. He served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1984 to 1985 and President of Guyana from 1985 until 1992.He was born in Guyana's capital, Georgetown...
, who also became president of the country, served as GLU honourary president in the 1980s.
The Guyana Labour Union later became associated with the People's National Congress
People's National Congress
The People's National Congress is a socialist political party in Guyana led by Robert Corbin. The party currently holds 22 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.-History:...
. Robert Williams is the general secretary of GLU.