Draft:1981 Bermuda general strike

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The 1981 Bermuda general strike was a general strike in Bermuda in May 1981. It was the first general strike in Bermudan history.

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Background

Bermuda Industrial Union Bermuda Public Services Association David Gibbons

The second half of the 20th century brought a number of significant developments to Bermudan society and politics. The 1968 Bermudian general election was the first in Bermudan history organised under universal suffrage.

1977 Bermudan riots

History

Prelude

Strike

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On 4 May, Simmons called for a general strike.^[15]

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Resolution

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Reactions

Bermuda Hotel Association vice-president Lyndon Clay called the strike "an utter disaster."^[16]

Aftermath

Assessments

In 2021, The Royal Gazette stated that the strike caused "a shift in Bermuda society," saying that it was "a milestone for our less than perfect society, as since which we have been able to remain on a path of non-violently resolving significant community matters."^[20]

Progressive Labour Party MP Rolfe Commissiong stated in 2023 that the strike played a significant role in modernising Bermuda "from a society tightly controlled by a small, entitled and privileged White oligarchy."^[21]

Legacy

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In May 2024, three trees were planeted in honour of three participants in the general strike: one in Victoria Park in honour of Reverend Larry Lowe, one outside the Devonshire Parish police headquarters in honour of Campbell Simons, and one outside Christ Church, Devonshire, in honour of Thomas Nisbett.^[24]

In popular culture

Former Bermuda Public Services Association president Leleath Bailey and newspaper columnist Alvin Williams would write a book titled Labour on the March: The Story of Labour Day, detailing the strike and its role in pushing the Bermudan to officially recognise Labour Day.^[25] In 2021, a documentary was released on the strike titled Victory: The Story of the Labour Movement & The Historic 1981 Strike.^[26]

References

^ "Recollections of the 1981 General Strike". The Royal Gazette. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
^ Fubler, Glenn (5 May 2011). "1981: Lessons of solidarity". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Fubler, Glenn (5 May 2020). "Column: Anniversary Of 1981 General Strike". Bernews. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Fubler, Glenn (1 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Canon Thomas Nesbitt, a ‛gentle and patient trailblazer'". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Renaud, Gary (4 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Chuck Renaud, from the Belco canteen to Union Square". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "1981: when Bermuda went to the precipice". The Royal Gazette. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
^ Simons, Campbell (5 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Campbell Simons, the calm arm of the law". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Bell, Jonathan (5 May 2021). "Civil servant praised for pivotal role in ending General Strike". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Bell, Jonathan (6 May 2021). "1981 general strike remembered". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
^ Kawaley, Kathy (20 April 2022). "1981 General Strike: Betty Kawaley, never afraid to speak out". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Moniz Hardy, Jessie (16 November 2023). "Thelma Hart's vested commitment to trade unionism". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ White, David (1 May 1981). "Strike closing Bermuda hotels". UPI. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "No break in Bermuda strike". UPI. 2 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
^ "Teachers and electric utility workers began walking off their..." UPI. 4 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Union Leader in Bermuda Calls for a General Strike". The New York Times. 5 May 1981. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ ^a ^b "STORMY LABOR SCENE LAYS WASTE BERMUDA'S SEASON". The New York Times. 6 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
^ Shipp, Randy (6 May 1981). "Teachers, utility workers back up Bermuda strike". CS Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ White, David (7 May 1981). "Blue-collar government workers gathered at union headquarters today and..." UPI. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "Around the World; New Contract Negotiated To End Strike in Bermuda". The New York Times. 7 May 1981. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
^ Burgess, Ronaldine (30 April 2021). "1981 General Strike: Ottiwell Simmons has no regrets". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ McWhirter, Fiona (20 June 2023). "Ottiwell Simmons (1933-2023): labour icon and political leader". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "1981 General Strike Anniversary Ceremony". Bernews. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Solomon, Alva (2 May 2024). "March commemorates anniversary of 1981 general strike". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Lagan, Sarah (12 May 2024). "Contributions of 'exemplars' during General Strike honoured". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "BTUC President Jason Hayward on 'The Story of Labour Day'". Bermuda Real. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ Butler, Dale (26 June 2023). "Review: 'Victory' Documentary On 1981 Strike". Bernews. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[1] "Recollections of the 1981 General Strike". The Royal Gazette. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

[2] Fubler, Glenn (5 May 2011). "1981: Lessons of solidarity". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[3] Fubler, Glenn (5 May 2020). "Column: Anniversary Of 1981 General Strike". Bernews. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[4] Fubler, Glenn (1 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Canon Thomas Nesbitt, a ‛gentle and patient trailblazer'". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[5] Renaud, Gary (4 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Chuck Renaud, from the Belco canteen to Union Square". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[6] "1981: when Bermuda went to the precipice". The Royal Gazette. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2024.

[7] Simons, Campbell (5 May 2021). "1981 General Strike: Campbell Simons, the calm arm of the law". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[8] Bell, Jonathan (5 May 2021). "Civil servant praised for pivotal role in ending General Strike". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[9] Bell, Jonathan (6 May 2021). "1981 general strike remembered". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

[10] Kawaley, Kathy (20 April 2022). "1981 General Strike: Betty Kawaley, never afraid to speak out". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[11] Moniz Hardy, Jessie (16 November 2023). "Thelma Hart's vested commitment to trade unionism". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[12] White, David (1 May 1981). "Strike closing Bermuda hotels". UPI. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[13] "No break in Bermuda strike". UPI. 2 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

[14] "Teachers and electric utility workers began walking off their..." UPI. 4 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

[15] "AROUND THE WORLD; Union Leader in Bermuda Calls for a General Strike". The New York Times. 5 May 1981. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[NYT_Stormy-16] "STORMY LABOR SCENE LAYS WASTE BERMUDA'S SEASON". The New York Times. 6 May 1981. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

[17] Shipp, Randy (6 May 1981). "Teachers, utility workers back up Bermuda strike". CS Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[18] White, David (7 May 1981). "Blue-collar government workers gathered at union headquarters today and..." UPI. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[19] "Around the World; New Contract Negotiated To End Strike in Bermuda". The New York Times. 7 May 1981. Retrieved 6 October 2024.

[20] Burgess, Ronaldine (30 April 2021). "1981 General Strike: Ottiwell Simmons has no regrets". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[21] McWhirter, Fiona (20 June 2023). "Ottiwell Simmons (1933-2023): labour icon and political leader". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[22] "1981 General Strike Anniversary Ceremony". Bernews. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[23] Solomon, Alva (2 May 2024). "March commemorates anniversary of 1981 general strike". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[24] Lagan, Sarah (12 May 2024). "Contributions of 'exemplars' during General Strike honoured". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[25] "BTUC President Jason Hayward on 'The Story of Labour Day'". Bermuda Real. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[26] Butler, Dale (26 June 2023). "Review: 'Victory' Documentary On 1981 Strike". Bernews. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

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