đź“… 19 June 1937
Oilfield workers assembled at Bhola’s Junction in Fyzabad to hear labour organizer Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler. Police attempted to arrest him; the confrontation widened into strikes and unrest across...
đź“… 25 July 1937
The Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) was formed on 25 July 1937 in the aftermath of the labour uprising. With Butler in hiding, he designated Adrian “Cola” Rienzi to lead in his stead. The union...
đź“… 9 September 1937
On 9 September 1937, Tubal Uriah Butler surrendered after remaining in hiding following the June uprising. The National Trust records that he faced sedition charges and was jailed for two years for...
đź“… 1 July 1946
On 1 July 1946, Trinidad and Tobago held its first Legislative Council election under universal adult suffrage. Voting rights were extended to women and men aged 21 and over, removing earlier income...
đź“… 18 September 1950
In the 18 September 1950 election, the Butler Party won six of the 18 elected seats, the largest bloc for any single party. The National Archives describes the party’s victory as anti-colonial, but...
đź“… 19 June 1973
On 19 June 1973, Trinidad and Tobago observed Labour Day as a public holiday for the first time. The date commemorates the 1937 oilfield uprising and the working-class struggle that helped build the...
