News

Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union GTAWU reached a historic milestone celebrating its 50th Anniversary on 25th May 2008.

A backward glance at the Unions humble beginning reveals that on May 25,1958 a small group of ordinary workers from the Electricity, Telephone, Water and Public Works Department ,armed with a deep ideological sense of justice , met and formulated the idea to create an independent Trade Union organization in Grenada and thus GTAWU was born. With it’ s first breath this infant Trade Union breath called the Great Electricity Strike of 1958 which caused a British Warship and Royal Marines to be summoned to the tiny island to occupy the Electricity plant. After this early “baptism of fire” the Union was victorious and has since become the largest Union in Grenada representing 3000 workers in over 50 companies.



Highlights of the events scheduled for this International May Day month included

· Grand May Day Parade on 1st , held at the historic Butler Junction with a simultaneous March on the Grenadian island of Carriacou followed by a “Back in Times” Party for members and families.

· Grand Banquet and Awards Function was held at the St George’s University to honor the founding fathers of the Union and to acknowledge the contribution of top shop stewards and Union officers The six Founding Fathers honored were Derek Knight Q.C First President General ,Willis Robinson Oldest living founding member (now 94 years)

Wilfred Hayes Fifth President General Bill Akie , Collin Fletcher and Lyle Stephenson (deceased).

The Honourable Senator Chester Humphrey GTAWU President General delivered the welcome remarks to the 350 international and local guests gathered for the evening and the Honorable Baldwin Spencer -Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda was present to deliver a very relevant and profound keynote address ,concerning the regional issues of Caribbean integration trade and the development of Caribbean politics into “a new era”,UNI Americas Regional office which is led by Regional Secretary Rodolfo Benitez donated this 50th Anniversary commemorative pin to GTAWU for this historic event.



Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org