Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow
Encyclopedia
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow (1884-1958) was born in Georgetown, Guyana
in 1884. Little is known of his early childhood but in his late teens, after leaving school, he was a dock worker. At the age of 20 he began his struggle for the interest of waterfront workers' wage negotiations and rights. His struggle continued into 1917 when he founded the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). The BGLU is officially the first trade union in the Caribbean
.
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow is often referred to as the father of trade unions. He was the first man in British Guyana to formalize labour negotiations. Critchlow died in 1958 in Georgetown
.
On 2 December 1964 then premier of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan
, unveiled a bronze statue of Critchlow in the compound of the Parliament Building
.
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow devoted his life to changing the harsh conditions under which men were forced to work in those days. His work is specially remembered on 1 May, which is designated as:
On this day, wreaths are laid at the base of Critchlow's statue by leaders of the government and prominent trades unionists. Workers parade through the streets of the township dressed in red and white. They march under the banner of their particular trade union in a show of solidarity for workers' rights.
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
in 1884. Little is known of his early childhood but in his late teens, after leaving school, he was a dock worker. At the age of 20 he began his struggle for the interest of waterfront workers' wage negotiations and rights. His struggle continued into 1917 when he founded the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). The BGLU is officially 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...
.
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow is often referred to as the father of trade unions. He was the first man in British Guyana to formalize labour negotiations. Critchlow died in 1958 in Georgetown
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
.
On 2 December 1964 then premier of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan
Cheddi Jagan
Cheddi Berret Jagan was a Guyanese politician who was first elected Chief Minister in 1953 and later Premier of British Guiana from 1961 to 1964, prior to independence. He later served as President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997.- Biography :The son of ethnic Indian sugar plantation workers, Jagan...
, unveiled a bronze statue of Critchlow in the compound of the Parliament Building
Parliament Building, Guyana
Guyana's Parliament Building, designed by Joseph Hadfield, was built on a foundation of greenheart logs. The foundation stone was laid in 1829 and, in April 1834, the structure, stuccoed to resemble stone blocks, was completed....
.
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow devoted his life to changing the harsh conditions under which men were forced to work in those days. His work is specially remembered on 1 May, which is designated as:
- Labour Day
- Workers' Day or
- May Day.
On this day, wreaths are laid at the base of Critchlow's statue by leaders of the government and prominent trades unionists. Workers parade through the streets of the township dressed in red and white. They march under the banner of their particular trade union in a show of solidarity for workers' rights.