Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler

THE MAN AND HIS TIMES

Tubal Uriah Butler has been immortalized as the founder of the
trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago. His contribution is
recognized each year with the observance of the national holiday
of Labour Day on June 19th.

While working people were agitating and mobilizing for better wages
and working conditions since 1919, following the return of soldiers
from the West India Regiment, it was the Labour Riots of 1937, led
by Uriah Butler, that was the catalyst for the much needed change
in working conditions. This exhibition highlights the unfolding of
events during the 1937 Labour Riots and the role of Uriah Butler.
 BIOGRAPHY
Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler
1897-1977
Born Workers Trade Union (OWTU).
Tubal Uriah Butler was born on January 21st 1897 in Bluggo Political Career
Cottage, Georgetown, Grenada. 1936 – Butler formed his own party, The British Empire Workers
and Citizens Home Rule Party (BEWCHP).
Education
Butler attended St. George’s Anglican School in Grenada which 1950 –The Butler Party won a seat to represent St. Patrick West
had a high reputation. Butler’s father was a sexton at St. George’s in the Legislative Council.
Anglican which gave Butler this opportunity.
1950 – 1961 – Butler served in the Legislative Council.
War Service
At age 17 he volunteered in the first contingent of British West 1958 – He ran for Federal Elections and was defeated by Hussain
India Regiment and then served in the First World War in Egypt Shah.
and Palestine.
1961 – He ran for General Elections and contested the La Brea
Following his return from the war, he formed the Grenada seat.
Representative Government Movement and the Grenada Union
of Returned Soldiers. Achievements
1970 – Butler received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award ‘The
Butler’s Move to Trinidad Trinity Cross’ for his contribution as a labour leader and reputation
1921 – Butler moved to Trinidad attracted by the flourishing oil as a fighter for the people. He was regarded as the hero of the
industry. He worked as a pipe-fitter at the Roodal Oil fields. In people.
1929, he sustained an injury in the oil fields which left him with a
permanent limp. 1972 – June 19th, the anniversary of the Oilfield Wokers’ riots of
1937, was declared an annual holiday by Act 19 of 1972 and is
1922-1931 - Butler became actively involved in the Moravian celebrated as Labour Day.
Baptist Church and by 1931 he became the Church’s chief pastor.
1988 – The Princess Margaret Highway was renamed ‘The Uriah
Emergence as working class leader Butler Highway’ in his honour.
1935 – Butler joined Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani’s Trinidad
Labour Party (TLP) (formerly called the Trinidad Workingmen’s Death of a Hero
Association -TWA) and in March led a hunger march from the Apex 1977 – Butler died on Sunday 20th February 1977. He was given
oilbelt to Port of Spain for higher wages and improved working a State Funeral and buried on February 24th at Fyzabad.
conditions. This marked the beginning of Butler’s emergence as a
working class leader. In 1936 Butler left the TLP and formed his Sources:
own party. Anthony, Michael. Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow
Press Inc, London, 1997.
Beckles, Hilary and Verene Shepherd. Caribbean Freedom: Economy
1937 – He organized a sit down strike which proved to be the and Society from Emancipation to the Present. Ian Randle Publishers,
catalyst for future labour movements. The turning point of the Kingston, Jamaica, 1996.
oilfield workers’ riot began when police attempted to arrest Butler Bolland, Nigel, O. The Politics of Labour in the British Caribbean. Ian
while addressing a meeting on the evening of June 19th. Oilfield Randle Publishers Ltd, Jamaica, 2001.
workers clashed with police officials which resulted in a bloody National Library and Information System Authority website, “Biographies
battle. Fourteen (14) people were killed, fifty nine (59) wounded A-C”, 12 June 2012. http://www2.nalis.gov.tt
and hundreds arrested. Among the casualties and injuries were Trinidad Guardian. “Oilfield strikers clash with Police.” June 18th, 1937. P. 1
several police officers notably Sub Inspector William S. Bradburn Trinidad Guardian “Butler dies.” February 21st 1977. P. 9.
who was shot and Corporal Charlie King who was beaten and
burnt. On September 9th Butler surrendered. He was tried and
freed on the charges of sedition but was jailed for two (2) years for
inciting riot.

1939 – In May 1939 he was released from jail but in November

Butler was arrested and detained as a security risk under the
defense regulations during World War II. He spent six (6) years in
detention on Nelson Island and was not released until the war was
over in 1945. On his release from jail, Butler intensified his efforts
for home rule and social justice.

1946 – Butler called a general strike.

1947 – Followers of Butler gathered in Port of Spain and stormed

the Red House and as a result Butler was expelled from the Oilfield
CALL TO
ACTION
Butler emerged as a labour leader after he
led the 1935 strike at the Apex Oilfields.
His efforts to agitate for higher wages and
improved living and working conditions
amidst the rising cost of living, intensified
after he formed his own party – the British
Empire Workers and Citizens Home Rule
Party in 1936.
STRIKE ACTION
19TH JUNE 1937
From 1936-1937, Butler mobilized workers
and held public meetings throughout
the oilbelt. In May 1937 he was arrested
and charged with inciting riots and with
sedition following his speech made to
workers in Fyzabad. He was summoned to
appear on 17 June but failed to appear. On
19 June, police tried to arrest him while
addressing workers in Fyzabad but his
followers resisted his arrest.
AFTERMATH
 BUTLER’S ARREST
AND TRIAL
After the riots, Butler fled into hiding and emerged
three months later under an agreement to testify
before a visiting British Commission. He was
subsequently arrested and jailed for two years.
In May 1939, he was released from jail but in
November he was arrested and detained on
Nelson Island as a security risk under the defense
regulations during World War II. He was released
when the war was over in 1945. He continued
his plight for social justice and served on the
Butler’s cottage on Nelson Island Legislative Council from 1950-1961.
 CONSEQUENCES

Growth of trade unionism Initiation of development and welfare

projects in British colonies
• Working class consciousness intensified. • Forster Commission Report
• The 1937 Labour Riots led to the growth of a modern 1937 - A Royal Commission of Inquiry appointed to
trade union movement along British lines. By the end of enquire into the cause of the disturbances recommended
1938, there were ten trade unions in Trinidad, more than among other matters the formation of a Labour Department
in any other West Indian colony. They were: and the establishment of an Industrial Court.
o All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers’ Trade
Union • Moyne Commission recommendations - basis for
o All Trinidad Transport and General Workers’ Trade development
Union 1938-1939 – The West India Royal Commission headed
o Amalgamated Building and Woodworkers’ Union by Lord Moyne investigated conditions in the colonies as
o Federated Workers’ Trade Union labour disturbances had broken out elsewhere in the West
o Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Indies. Its recommendations influenced British policy
o Printers’ Industrial Trade Union after 1939 with improvements in health services, housing,
o Public Works and Public Service Workers’ Union and social services, with limited constitutional change and
o Railway Workers’ Trade Union support for trade union development.
o Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union
Sources:
Boland, O. Nigel. The Politics of Labour in the British Caribbean, Ian Randle Publish-
Labour legislation improvements ers, Jamaica, 2001.
Brereton, Bridget. A History of Modern Trinidad 1783-1962 Heinemann Educational
Books (Caribbean) Ltd, London. 1981.
• In 1938 the Trade Disputes Ordinance was enacted. This Rohlehr, Gordon. Calypso & Society in Pre-Independence Trinidad, HEM Printers
Ltd, Trinidad, 1990.
law provided machinery for settlement of disputesafter Ryan, Selwyn. Race and Nationalism in Trinidad and Tobago: a study of decolonization
collective bargaining had broken down. in a multiracial society, University of Toronto Press, Canada, 1972.
Teelucksingh, Jerome. Political ambitions and contributions to trade unionism: Tubal
• In 1939, the Government amended the 1932 Ordinance Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler during the 1930s and 1940s in Caribbean Journal of Labour and
to legalize peaceful picketing and give unions immunity Co-operative Studies, Vol. I (2012) Issue I (October)
from actions for damages arising out of strikes.
 CALYPSOES AND
THE 1937 RIOTS
The 1937 Labour Riots and its aftermath became the subject of several calypsoes
in the thirties. The tradition of censoring calypsoes was severe after the 1937
and would continue in the years that followed.
Atilla the Hun (born Raymond Quevedo 1892-1962), one of the greatest
calypsonians of all times, composed eleven calypsos on the political events in the
1937-1939 period. He was admired for both his eloquence and keen observation
of detail. Attila was the first calypsonian to hold elected public office; he was
elected to the Port of Spain City Council in 1946.
• The Strike • The Oilfields’ Tribunal
• Mr. Nakivell’s Speech • Sir Hubert Young
• The Commissioners’ Report • What a Vote
• The Governor’s Resignation • Adrian Rienzi
• Where was Butler: • Trade Unionism
• The Five Year Plan

Among other calypsoes sung about the riots were:

Strike in Trinidad and Sedition Law - King Radio
Sir Murchison Fletcher - Lion
We Mourn the Loss of Sir Murchison Fletcher - Executor
Fatal Accident of Mr. Nankivell - Executor
King Radio – Sedition Law Atilla the Hun –
“ If a man want to be versed in politics The Commissioner’s Report
He have to be plucky with the lot of tricks examines the report of the Forster Commission.
He has got to use a little diplomacy Atilla the Hun –
Mix up with commonsense and psychology” “A peculiar thing about the commission
And their ninety-two pages of dissertation
The Governor’s Resignation
“In my opinion Sir Murchison Fletcher
Is that there is no talk of exploitation
Was our ablest Governor
Atilla the Hun - The Strike Of the worker or his condition
We only wish the Downing Street
“The strikes and riots, tho’ I wasn’t there Read through the pages and there is no mention
authorities
Was a most regrettable affair Of Capitalistic oppression
Would send more men like him to the
I’ll now entertain you with a song Which leads me to entertain the thought
West Indies
But I don’t know who is right or who is wrong…. And wonder if it is a one-sided report.”
His resignation was a shock to me
Regretted throughout the Colony
…All I know is that the wages too low
And tribulation the workers have to undergo Atilla the Hun –
Sir Murchison Fletcher will ever be
And we know – we all know the times are bad Mr. Nankivell’s Speech Beloved in every Trinidadian’s memory
We want better conditions in Trinidad.” A song in honour of Nakivell, Acting Colonial Secre- For he proved in sincerity
tary under Governor Fletcher at the time of the riots. His interest in the welfare of this Colony
Tiger – We must foster local industry, said he,
“He spoke feelingly and strikingly And augment the island’s prosperity
Advice to West Indians Logically and conscientiously It is no wonder it is with regret and pain
“ I am advising every worker as a West Indian His diction was perfect, elocution great,
To be careful and join a labour union We learn he ain’t coming back again.”
To describe his speech words are inadequate
It’s the only way you can achieve your right He said: “They who plant the cane and dig the oil
And to stop the oppressive hands of might And develop the estates with their sweat and toil Source: Rohlehr, Gordon. Calypso & Society in
And allow your progressive march to be an While employers are living luxuriously Pre-Independence Trinidad, HEM Printers Ltd. Trinidad 1990.
inspiration They should not be dying in misery.”
To the rising generation.” Images http://record-fiend.blogspot.com/2009/06/calypsos-from-trinidad-politics.html
…..His speech created a great sensation
And was welcomed by the population.
There’s a rumour he will be recalled
For by the Commissioners he has been blackballed
But even if he be a million miles across the sea
Beloved in our hearst he will be
For the entire multitude
Offers him their undying gratitude.”