Thee Labor Movement of St. Lucia

Download or read book Thee Labor Movement of St. Lucia written by George Frederick Lawrence and published by . This book was released on 2019-07 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: George Frederick Lawrence is one of the stalwarts of the early Struggles of the Caribbean working class. He was the founding member of the St. Lucia Labor Party, first Minister of Education and Social Affairs, First Chief Minister and subsequently Leader of the opposition. Born on June 7, 1916 and educated at St. Mary's College St. Lucia (then an elite educational establishment) he gained wide working experience after leaving school. Like many young West Indians of his time he emigrated to Aruba, spending one year with multi-national LARGO OIL and TRANSPORT CO. On his return to St. Lucia he reverted to former employment as a commercial and shipping clerk. A milestone in his political involvement in working class struggles occurred in 1945 when he was employed as a time-keeper on the renovation and extension project of Vigie Airport. A Wild cat strike by workers (the first militant Trade Union action on the Island) on the project brought Charles into active solidarity with the workers. The project workers were affiliated with the first Trade Union in St. Lucia the St. Lucia Cooperative Union. Late in 1945 Charles was elected Secretary of the Union Branch. Affairs. With full establishment of the ministerial government He was made the first Chief Minister.