What Is Labour Day?
Every year on June 19, Trinidad and Tobago observes Labour Day — a national public holiday dedicated to honouring the working men and women of our twin island republic, celebrating the labour movement that shaped our nation, and reflecting on the rights and dignity that all workers deserve.
Labour Day is more than a day off from work. It is a day to remember the brave people who fought — sometimes at great personal cost — to win basic rights for workers: fair wages, reasonable working hours, safe conditions, and protection from exploitation. Many of the rights that we take for granted today were won through decades of struggle, organisation, and sacrifice.
For homeschooling families in Trinidad and Tobago, Labour Day offers a powerful opportunity to teach children about history, civic rights, economics, community, and the value of honest work. At Homeschool Self Study, we believe that understanding the story of Labour Day is part of a complete education — one that connects children to their heritage and helps them grow into informed, compassionate citizens.
The History of Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago
The Roots of the Labour Movement
Trinidad and Tobago’s Labour Day is rooted in one of the most significant events in Caribbean history: the 1937 labour disturbances, also known as the Butler Riots or the 1937 Workers’ Uprising.
In the 1930s, oil had been discovered in Trinidad and was being extracted by foreign companies. Yet the workers who laboured in those oil fields — largely Black and East Indian Trinidadians — were paid extremely low wages, worked in dangerous conditions, and had no voice to challenge their employers. The poverty and inequality of this era created deep frustration across the working class.
Uriah “Buzz” Butler: The Man Who Sparked Change
The central figure of the 1937 uprising was Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler — born in Grenada in 1897 and one of the most important labour leaders in Caribbean history. Butler had worked in the Trinidad oil fields and experienced firsthand the exploitation of workers. He organised workers, spoke powerfully at public meetings, and demanded change.
On June 19, 1937, a warrant was issued for Butler’s arrest at an oil field in Fyzabad, south Trinidad. When police arrived to arrest him, the assembled workers refused to allow it. Violence broke out, and the unrest spread across the oilfields and beyond. The disturbances lasted several days and shook the British colonial administration.
The aftermath of the 1937 disturbances was transformational. The British government sent investigators who acknowledged the terrible conditions workers faced. New labour laws were introduced. Trade unions were officially recognised. The groundwork was laid for the political movement that would eventually lead to Trinidad and Tobago’s independence in 1962.
June 19 — the date the uprising began — was later proclaimed Labour Day, a national holiday in honour of workers and the movement for their rights.
Key Figures of the T&T Labour Movement
Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler (1897–1977)
The “Chief Servant” and founding father of the T&T labour movement. Butler’s courage in standing up for oil field workers in 1937 launched a chain of events that transformed our society. He remains one of the most celebrated heroes of Trinidad and Tobago.
Adrian Cola Rienzi (1905–1972)
Born Krishna Deonarine, Rienzi was a lawyer and trade unionist who co-founded the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) in 1937. He was instrumental in organising both Indian and African workers together, crossing racial lines in the name of workers’ rights.
Arthur Andrew Cipriani (1875–1945)
An earlier labour leader and politician known as “the Champion of the Barefoot Man.” He advocated for workers and ordinary Trinidadians from the 1920s, laying important groundwork for the movements that followed.
Quintin O’Connor
A key labour leader and organiser who worked alongside Butler and helped build the labour movement in the 1930s and beyond.
Why Labour Day Matters: Workers’ Rights and Why They Exist
Before the labour movement, most workers in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean had no legal protection. The gains won through the labour movement changed all of this.
Key workers’ rights won through the labour movement:
- The right to fair wages — workers must be paid at least a minimum wage
- The right to safe working conditions — employers must provide safe workplaces
- The right to reasonable working hours — limits on how long an employer can demand you work
- The right to paid leave — annual leave, sick leave, and maternity/paternity leave
- The right to join a trade union — workers can organise collectively
- The right to collective bargaining — unions can negotiate on behalf of workers
- Protection against unfair dismissal — workers cannot be fired without proper cause
- The right to non-discrimination — workers cannot be treated differently because of race, religion, gender, or age
These rights did not come automatically. They were fought for — through strikes, marches, negotiations, and sometimes at great personal cost — by ordinary working people who refused to accept exploitation.
Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago Today
Labour Day in T&T is observed each year on June 19. It is a national public holiday marked by:
Trade Union Marches and Rallies
The most visible feature of Labour Day in T&T is the march organised by the Labour Congress and affiliated trade unions. Workers and union members march through the streets of Port of Spain and other towns, celebrating the movement and raising current concerns about wages, working conditions, and workers’ rights.
Speeches and Tributes
Politicians, union leaders, and community figures give speeches reflecting on the history of the labour movement and the challenges facing workers today. The names of Butler, Rienzi, and other pioneers are honoured.
Community Events
Families come together, and communities hold events marking the holiday. It is a day of celebration as well as reflection.
Reflection on Current Issues
Labour Day is also a day when unions and workers raise awareness of present-day labour concerns — minimum wage levels, working conditions in various industries, and the challenges facing young workers.
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU)
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union — founded in 1937 — is one of the oldest and most important trade unions in the Caribbean. It represents workers in Trinidad’s oil industry and has its headquarters in San Fernando. Other important unions include the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU), the Banking Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA).
What Children Should Understand About Labour Day
Labour Day connects to many important values and concepts that children should begin to understand from a young age:
- The value of work — All honest work has dignity and value, whether it is a doctor, a cleaner, a teacher, a farmer, or a factory worker
- Fairness and rights — Workers have rights that protect them from exploitation; these rights exist because people fought for them
- History and heritage — Buzz Butler and the 1937 workers are part of Trinidad and Tobago’s national story
- Community and solidarity — The labour movement was built on people coming together across racial and ethnic lines
- Civic responsibility — Citizens have a responsibility to understand their rights, to vote, to speak up, and to hold governments and employers accountable
Hands-On Activities for Ages 5 to 11
Here are six activities to help primary school children engage with the history and meaning of Labour Day.
Activity 1: Jobs in My Community (Ages 5–7)
Help young children recognise and celebrate the workers around them.
What to do:
- Ask your child to name as many jobs as they can think of in your community — teachers, nurses, police officers, market vendors, bus drivers, farmers
- Draw or cut out pictures of five different workers
- For each worker, write or dictate: What do they do? Why is their job important? How does their work help your family or community?
- Make a “Community Workers” poster to display at home on Labour Day
Learning connection: Social Studies — community roles; Language Arts — oral and written expression; Art — illustration and design
Activity 2: The 1937 Story (Ages 7–10)
Bring the history of Labour Day to life through storytelling and narration.
What to do:
- Read together (or have your child read) about the 1937 workers’ uprising and Buzz Butler
- Have your child write a short story (one to two pages) from the perspective of a young oil worker in 1937 — what was their life like? What did they want to change?
- Alternatively, write a newspaper front page from June 19, 1937, reporting on the events at Fyzabad
- Include a drawing or illustration to accompany the writing
Learning connection: History — T&T and Caribbean history; Language Arts — narrative writing, perspective-taking; Creative Arts — illustration
Activity 3: Workers’ Rights Then and Now (Ages 8–11)
Explore how workers’ rights have changed over time.
What to do:
- Create a two-column chart: “Before the Labour Movement” and “After the Labour Movement”
- Research and list at least five conditions that changed as a result of workers fighting for their rights (wages, hours, safety, unions, leave)
- Discuss: Are there workers today who still do not have all of these rights?
- Write a short reflection: What do you think is the most important workers’ right and why?
Learning connection: History — before and after analysis; Social Studies — rights and responsibilities; Language Arts — research and reflective writing; Critical Thinking — comparing and evaluating
Activity 4: Interview a Worker (Ages 6–11)
Connect Labour Day to the real people in your child’s life.
What to do:
- Choose an adult in your family or community who works
- Prepare five interview questions together: What is your job? What do you enjoy? What is hardest? Do you belong to a union? What right is most important for workers?
- Conduct the interview and take notes
- Write up the interview as a profile piece: “A Portrait of a Working Person”
- Optional: present it as a video or audio recording
Learning connection: Language Arts — interview skills, report writing; Social Studies — community and family; Oral Communication — questioning and active listening
Activity 5: Design a Labour Day Poster (Ages 5–11)
Express the meaning of Labour Day through visual art.
What to do:
- Discuss with your child: what does Labour Day mean? Who are we celebrating? What message do we want to share?
- Design a Labour Day poster with a slogan, an illustration of workers or the T&T flag, and the date: June 19
- Use any medium: pencil, markers, paint, collage
- Display the poster at home on June 19
Example slogans: “Every worker matters” | “Rights were won — never forget” | “From Fyzabad to freedom” | “Proud workers, proud nation”
Learning connection: Art — design and visual communication; Language Arts — slogan writing; Social Studies — national identity and civic values
Activity 6: The Maths of Work (Ages 7–11)
Explore the economics of work and wages through real T&T maths problems.
What to do:
Problem 1: In 1937, an oil field worker earned approximately $0.30 per day. If he worked 6 days a week, how much did he earn in a month (4 weeks)?
Problem 2: Today, Trinidad and Tobago’s minimum wage is $20.50 per hour. If a worker works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, how much do they earn in one week? In one month (4 weeks)?
Problem 3: Compare the 1937 daily wage ($0.30 TTD) to today’s minimum hourly wage ($20.50 TTD). Approximately how many times bigger is today’s wage?
Problem 4: A trade union negotiates a 10% wage increase for members earning $4,500 per month. How much more will each member earn per month? Per year?
Discussion: Why are wages higher today than in 1937? What role did the labour movement play in this change?
Learning connection: Mathematics — multiplication, division, percentage; Social Studies — economics and history; Critical Thinking — connecting maths to real-world context
Key Takeaways
- Labour Day is observed on June 19 — the anniversary of the 1937 workers’ uprising in Fyzabad, Trinidad
- Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler is the founding hero of the T&T labour movement
- The 1937 disturbances led to the recognition of trade unions, new labour laws, and better conditions for workers
- Workers’ rights — including fair wages, safe conditions, and the right to organise — were won through struggle
- Adrian Cola Rienzi co-founded the OWTU and united Indian and African workers in the labour cause
- Labour Day is a day to honour all working people and to recognise the dignity of work
- Every child can learn from the labour movement: that change is possible, solidarity matters, and ordinary people can make history
A Final Word
On June 19, as trade union members march through the streets and families observe the national holiday, we are reminded of something important: the rights and comforts we enjoy today were not always there. They were won — by people who were brave enough to stand up, organise, and demand better.
At Homeschool Self Study, we believe that understanding this history is part of raising children who are not only good learners, but good citizens. Children who know where their rights come from are more likely to value and defend them.
Happy Labour Day, Trinidad and Tobago! ✊🇹🇹
Homeschool Self Study is dedicated to supporting homeschooling families across Trinidad and Tobago with quality resources, activities, and encouragement for primary school learners. Explore more at homeschoolselfstudy.com.
