Photos: 2010 Labour Day March
Bermuda’s Labour Day holiday came about at the instigation of the Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU], at that time led by then-PLP MP Mr Ottiwell Simmons. The BIU had always sought a public holiday that was dedicated, as was the US Labour Day, to all workers.
Following the 1981 General Strike, and rather than give the European 1st May as the holiday date, the government-of-that-day led by Mr John W Swan MP, UBP (now Sir John.Swan) elected to give a Bermuda holiday but put it on the same date as the US Labour Day holiday. Bermuda’s first Labour Day holiday was on Monday September 6th 1982 – just a year after that BIU-led General Strike.
This morning [Sept 6] at Union Square all three leaders of the island’s political parties addressed the crowd; Premier Dr Brown [PLP], Kim.Swan [UBP] and Craig Cannonier [BDA]. Various union groups converged for the march, as well as the Bermuda Regiment Band and majorette groups.
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