PLP Chairperson’s Labour Day Message
[Labour Day message from Bermuda Progressive Labour Party Chair Dawn Simmons]
On this Labour Day, we come together to honour the workers who are the backbone of Bermuda, and to reflect on the rich history that ties our Progressive Labour Party to the labour movement.
Throughout our history, Bermuda’s workers were forced to march, picket, and engage in industrial action to earn better pay, safer working conditions, and better treatment for workers. For most of our history, Bermuda had governments that favoured the wealthy and privileged, hostile to the concept of unions oppossing anything that benefited workers.
Despite the hostility, abuse of power, and threats they faced, our people fought, our people organised and our people pushed Bermuda forward earning the respect and rights that we all deserve.
The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party is proud that throughout the years, we are the only political party to have consistently stood with our unions and with our peaceful protesters, at their side fighting for a better, fairer Bermuda. Trade unionists and Labour leaders have been members, candidates, senators, MPs and Ministers that have been instrumental in strengthening our vision and delivering tangible change for Bermuda’s workers.
It was those deep ties with our union partners that led us in 1981, through the foresight of PLP MP, the late C. Eugene Cox, that a motion to create a Labour Day holiday was brought to Parliament and passed.
Our union partners have driven us to make significant strides for the workers of Bermuda by:
- Strengthening our labour laws, ensuring that our workers receive greater respect and better treatment by employers.
- Introducing a minimum wage, a historic step towards fairer compensation for Bermuda’s lowest-paid workers.
- Expanding access to the Child Daycare Allowance, giving more working families relief from the high cost of daycare.
- Lengthening maternity leave and instituting the legal right to paternity leave.
- Slashing payroll tax to provide much-needed relief to our working and middle-class families, reflecting our commitment to easing the financial burden on those who truly drive our economy
As we look to the future, the Progressive Labour Party remains steadfast in our mission to protect and advance the rights of workers across Bermuda. On this Labour Day, let us celebrate our achievements, honour those who have paved the way, and renew our commitment to building a fairer and more just Bermuda for all.
In solidarity,
Dawn Simmons
Chair, Bermuda Progressive Labour Party
Read More About
Category: All
What about Chris Furburt’s PLP Banquet message? You going to cover that, or perhaps some religious sympathies? It’s kind of unpleasant, it really is. In most countries he would be asked to resign.
“Throughout our history, Bermuda’s workers were forced to march, picket, and engage in industrial action to earn better pay, safer working conditions, and better treatment for workers. For most of our history, Bermuda had governments that favoured the wealthy and privileged, hostile to the concept of unions oppossing anything that benefited workers.”
How is this government different. They give the short end of the stick to the workers:
Teachers
Taxi Drivers
Farmers
Fishermen
Non-government employees
Tell me where the lie is.
Oh, come on. You left out the obvious.
“The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party is proud that throughout the years, we are the only political party to have consistently stood with our unions and with our peaceful protesters, at their side fighting for a better, fairer Bermuda”
I would emphasise “and with our peaceful protesters”