labourday

• Home
• |
• content
• |
• jis pages
• |
• Uncategorized

Labour Day is the observation of national volunteerism and collective acts of service, offering a vivid reflection of the industrious and caring nature of the Jamaican people. The national holiday, officially recognised since 1960, is celebrated on May 23 annually in commemoration of the 1938 labour rebellion, where a series of workplace disturbances aimed at highlighting the inequities of wealth broke out across the British West Indies — significantly contributing to Jamaica’s independence.

In 1938, workers wanted better working conditions and wages. Things came to a head at the Kingston Waterfront when United Fruit Company workers walked off the job. They needed a spokesperson and called on St. William Grant, who enlisted Sir Alexander Bustamante’s help. Both were advocates of workers’ rights who hammered away at bringing their plight to national attention. Their hard work also brought personal hardship — they were branded as agitators and subsequently arrested on May 24, 1938.

Their efforts were not in vain. Out of those tumultuous events, the Trade Union Movement was strengthened and groups such as the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union were established.

In 1961, Premier Norman Washington Manley replaced Empire Day (May 24) — a celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday — with Labour Day (May 23). This was done because the island became an independent nation and it was more relevant to mark the events leading to the genesis of the country’s labour movement.

A shift in focus came in 1972, when Prime Minister Michael Manley changed the tone of the day by placing emphasis on community development through volunteerism.

Today, we still commemorate the struggle of the working class, which resulted in the historical labour rebellion of ’38 — but now use it as a springboard for national pride, unity, and service to our communities.