BELCO Riots 60th Anniversary Commemoration
BELCO held a ceremony today [Jan 31] alongside the Electrical Supply Trade Union [ESTU] and the Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU] to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the BELCO Riots.
A spokesperson said, “The 1960s were a time of social and political upheaval and unrest in Bermuda. Segregation was a part of everyday life in the community and in many companies, including BELCO.
“On January 19, 1965, the Electric Workers Division of the Bermuda Industrial Union went on strike in connection with their demand for union recognition. Several employees were involved but remaining employees ensured electric service was maintained during the five-week strike, albeit under difficult circumstances.
“After a month-long standoff, and with negotiations having broken down, the strike reached a boiling point on February 2 when strikers and police clashed in what would become known as the BELCO Riots. There were injuries on both sides, several BELCO staff were incarcerated, and the unrest continued for several more weeks.
“The strike ended on February 22, 1965. The following month a ballot of hourly paid employees was held to determine whether a majority desired to be represented by a union. The Electricity Supply Trade Union established the required majority and was granted recognition and sole bargaining rights.”
ESTU President Kevin Pilgrim said: “The BELCO Riots were a pivotal time for Bermuda and the growing importance of trade unions standing up for the rights of workers. While BELCO workers started their action alone, workers from the BIU and supporters from across the island joined the protest and stood in solidarity demanding change. The ESTU is proud to commemorate 60 years since those tumultuous days as well as the formation of our Union. The ESTU continues to represent BELCO staff, is run by its members and remains committed to our Mission Statement of being a democratic organisation dedicated to ensuring the welfare of its membership and the furtherance of Trade Unionism.”
BELCO President Wayne Caines said: “The BELCO Riots were one of the most important historical events in Bermuda. Today we recognize the BELCO workers who refused to back down in the face of threats and intimidation while fighting for their right to unionise. I am honoured to stand in solidarity with the ESTU members and commemorate the actions they took, the sacrifices they made, and the rights they won for all workers in Bermuda.”
Congrats to all who stopped to recall this pivotal event. Best wishes.
When is Bermuda going to stop living in the past by hanging on to matters resolved and which has come to a succesfiul conclusion, is this festering like puting salt in the woulds.
What is to be gained ! come on people ! do not spoil tomorrow.
A life lived in fear of the future is a life half lived.
All it takes is hard work and we are good at that we all Built Bermuda together the banker pays the plumber ., do not let us fail !
Do not throw it all away ,so what, if is is going to be a hard road to travel . you fall of the pedal bike you get back on
Be happy with what we have achieved ,it is all good.
We do not throw our good seeds on stony ground.
If we do not look to improving our future all that has been gained will loose its value.
Living one day at a time shows lack of for ~though by puting vision on the back burner .
What if we all did that.
Did we not learn any thing from. M.L.K. about “the measure of man”
Pac Man’s battery died so he decided to show his ignorance by castigsting something that was history. It is called history
Lest we forget