Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) is one of the oldest and most powerful labor organizations in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Its origins lie in the formation of the United Workers Trading Association (UWTA) in 1936 when oil workers at Fyzabad, under the leadership of Elbert Redvers Blades, established a cooperative to seek redress against high food prices that plagued oil workers. Following the 1937 general strike and insurrection that engulfed the country, and with Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler on the run from British security forces, members of UWTA met at the home of Cecil Williams – located at Coon's Town, Forest Reserve, Fyzabad – on July 15, 1937 to formally launch the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union. On July 25, 1937, at the Inaugural Conference of delegates held at Union Diamond Friendly Society Hall, Mucurapo Street, San Fernando, the delegates unanimously agreed to establish the union and elected Adrian Cola Rienzi President, McDonald Moses First Vice President, John F. F. Rojas Second Vice President, E. R. Blades General-Secretary, Caleb Roach Assistant General Secretary, J. F. Morgan Treasurer, and Ramrattan Madoo, Arthur McNish and James Hall Trustees. Rienzi served the union for seven years and following the split in the union between himself and Butler, he became a Crown Counsel. In 1944 John Rojas became OWTU's second President. He was a founding member ... log in or subscribe to read full text