D.K. DuncanTHE THIRD TRIENNIAL GENERAL Congress of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has come and gone. A number of news items have emerged from the Congress arising from the plethora of presentations made during the deliberations. A President and six vice presidents were elected without much public fanfare. There were no reports of divisiveness or conflict as participants concentrated on the many public issues on the agenda.
Despite this, the fact is that a third congress representing a Confederation of the nation's trade unions has largely gone unnoticed by the wider public. This kind of collaboration and co-operation has not always been the hallmark of the working class movement over the 66 years of Jamaica's modern trade union history.
LABOUR DAY
It was not many years ago that the major trade unions fought physical battles on the nation's streets. Up to May 1971 Labour Day activities for the most part centred on opposing groups of workers from different unions venting their anger against each other. This aspect of intra-working class hostility ceased with the advent of a change in the character of Labour Day. This was proposed and implemented in May 1972 by former National Workers Union (NWU) Leader Michael Manley. Fresh out of his trade union career, he had recently become Prime Minister. One of the most significant symbolic acts which continue to be celebrated, it called for national unity and participation around community-inspired social and economic tasks.
THE ORIGINS
In the earliest days of the modern Trade Union Movement the kind of co-operation now in place was also envisaged. Following the explosion of May 23, 1938 , Labour Leaders Alexander Bustamante (Busta) and St. William Grant were arrested. George Eaton reminds us that Busta said - "the fight has just begun for more pay. We are going to organise the entire Jamaica Labour into one Union" . Vic Reid quotes Norman Manley as saying - "when these troubles are over I hope that some group of responsible people will recognise the necessity for organising proper trade unions in this country".
In that same month a small unofficial committee - "The Trades Union Committee" was set up to help in the organisation of the projected Bustamante-led unions as well as to co-ordinate the activities of all the existing unions until a Central Advisory Council could be set up to which all unions could be federated. Much water was to flow "over" this bridge. Busta soon became President of all unions and controller of funds, with extensive individual power. The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) had its first annual conference in January 1939.
THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT
Shortly after and arising out of continuing strikes and a major dispute between Busta and members of AGS Coombs' Jamaica Workers and Tradesmen Union (JWTU), Busta called a general strike. The Governor declared a State of Emergency. With the Labour Movement in danger of collapsing, another attempt at co-operation between unions took place. A Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) was set up. Patterned off the British T.U.C. it was conceived by N.W. Manley and the then Governor Arthur Richards. The Gleaner of February 27, 1939 reported, "Manley brings unification of labour groups in Island". This was again short-lived. The BITU did not join.
The next significant attempt at co-operation followed Busta's detention on September 9, 1940. Phillip Sherlock quotes N.W. Manley - "I took charge of the Union with my best PNP organisers. It was in poor shape. We built it up and had 18 months of great success". On February 8, 1942 Busta was released. Five months later he announced his intention to form the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The JLP was formally launched on July 8, 1943.
Trade Union co-operation in a structured way re-emerged with the formation of the Joint Trade Union Research and Development Centre (JTURDC). This was later followed by the Joint Confederation of Trade Unions which held a successful third successful triennial Congress recently. Respect is due. One Love,
One Heart.
A Dental Surgeon, Dr. D.K. Duncan is a former Cabinet Minister and General Secretary in the PNP Administration of the 1970's.
