BIU President Furbert To Step Down In 2028
Bermuda Industrial Union President Chris Furbert announced that he will not stand for re-election in 2028.
Speaking to a sold out crowd during the annual BIU Labour Day Banquet last night, Mr Furbert said his current term would be his last.
The message from the BIU President in the event program said, “As we celebrate 80 years since the founding of the Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU], we do so under a theme that speaks not only to our history, but also to the responsibility before us ‘The Courage to Change – Built by the Past, Transforming for the Future.’
Mr Furbert with Shyne Barrow at last night’s Labour Day banquet
“The story of the BIU is rooted in courage and change. Dr. E. F. Gordon and the Bermuda Workers Association [BWA] recognized that the conditions facing Bermuda’s workers could not remain as they were. They understood that workers needed a strong, organized trade union that could represent their interests, defend their rights and give working people a collective voice. What began 80 years ago required courage; the courage to challenge the status quo and create a better future for themselves and their families.
“For eight decades, the BIU has carried that vision forward. Through collective action and collective bargaining, we have helped transform the lives of Bermuda’s workers; securing improvements in wages, working hours, paid benefits and other conditions of employment. These achievements were earned through those who came before us and have been protected and improved by each generation of workers that followed.
“This Labour Day holds special significance for me. Over our 80-year history, only seven Presidents have led this organization. I am particularly humbled to share a unique distinction with Brother Ottiwell Simmons, who served as President for 22 years, from 1974 to 1996. When my present term concludes in March 2028, I too will have served for 22 years. Together, our service will represent 44 years of leadership in the life of this great Union; a testament to the strength and continuity of the BIU.
A 2011 image from the Bernews archives shows the three men whose consecutive terms as BIU president have spanned more than five decades: Derrick Burgess, left, who served 10 years from 1996 to 2006; the late Ottiwell Simmons, centre, who served from 1974 to 1996; and current president Chris Furbert, who has held the position since 2006, with this year marking his 20th in the role
“As I reflect on my 20 years of service thus far, I remain deeply grateful to the membership for entrusting me with five terms of leadership and for the confidence and support you have shown me throughout this journey.
“However, leadership is not only about the years we serve or the accomplishments we can look back upon. Leadership is also about preparing an organization for what comes next.
“The world of work is changing rapidly. New industries and new ways of working are reshaping workplaces. The workers of tomorrow will face challenges that may be different from those faced by the workers of 1946, but their need for representation, fairness, dignity and a collective voice will remain. The BIU must therefore be prepared to transform with the times. We must be prepared to embrace new ideas and new approaches while remaining firmly grounded in the principles upon which this Union was built.
“Transformation does not mean abandoning our past. It means having the courage to build upon it. We cannot be afraid to evolve. We cannot simply celebrate what the BIU has been; we must also have a clear vision for what the BIU must become.
Mr Furbert speaking at this year’s Labour Day celebration at Union Square
“As we mark 80 years, we honour those who came before us not simply by remembering what they achieved, but by carrying their work forward. Our responsibility is to leave the next generation a Union as strong, courageous, progressive, relevant and determined as the one entrusted to us. So, as we celebrate this Labour Day, let us be proud of our history, but never confined by it. Let us honour the courage of those who established this Union by showing the courage required to transform it for the future. Happy Labour Day to our members, their families and all of Bermuda.”
Mr Furbert was recognized during last night’s banquet for his 20 years of service, and there was a message from Premier David Burt in the event program which said, “Leading Bermuda’s largest union for twenty years is an achievement in itself. As the Bermuda Industrial Union celebrates its 80th anniversary, it is fitting that we also celebrate the contribution of the man who has led it for a quarter of that history. Congratulations, President Chris Furbert, on twenty years of distinguished leadership and service to Bermuda’s workers.”
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