Page 31 - BLACK HISTORY IN BERMUDA red

The Labour Movement & Human

Rights Petition 1944-1954

Until 1944, workers’ rights and labour standards in Bermuda were virtually non-existent.
Segregation was in place and blacks, who comprised most of the labour force, were often
not listened to by those in power. In 1944, the Bermuda Workers Association was formed
by a group of workers at the US Naval Base in Southampton when they had had their pay
cut. They chose Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon, who had a reputation for taking on the white
establishment, as their first president. The goals of the BWA were achieving trade union
recognition, ending racial segregation, and achieving universal adult suffrage.
In 1946, Dr. E. F. Gordon travelled to England to present a Human Rights petition from
the BWA to the British Colonial Secretary. This petition called for the British government courtesy the bermuda industrial union
to investigate Bermuda’s human rights record, particularly the poor treatment of black
and working-class Bermudians. The Colonial Secretary responded with strong recom-
mendations for positive changes to the colony’s discriminatory laws. One result of the
petition was the introduction of free primary school education, which came about
Bermuda Workers Association
following the passage of a law in 1949.
supporters on the grounds of
Due to a new law banning a labour union from participating in political activities, the the House of Assembly in 1948
BWA established the Bermuda Industrial Union in 1947. It continues to be Bermuda’s during the debate of a White
largest trade union to this day. Paper, that was sparked by the
BWA petition.
Pressure for change continued to build in the 1950s. In 1953, a record nine black
Bermudians were elected to the House of Assembly, leading to the formation of an
Inter-Racial Committee which would investigate racial problems. Sir Henry Tucker
chaired the committee, and Dr. Gordon was one of only four blacks appointed to the
committee. The report, released in 1954, made few concessions to blacks, but did
end racial discrimination in Government employment.

courtesy the bermuda industrial union

Left to right, front row: BWA founder Gerald Brangman, Trew Wright Robinson, member of the BWA
executive, and Dr. E.F. Gordon during the 1948 demonstration.

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