Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow

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Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow (1884-1958) was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1884. Little is known of his early childhood but in his late teens, after leaving school, he was a dock worker. At the age of 20 he began his struggle for the interest of waterfront worker’s wage negotiations and rights. His struggle continued into 1917 when he founded the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). The BGLU is officially the first trade union in the Caribbean.

Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow is often referred to as the father of trade unions. He was the first man in British Guyana to formalize labour negotiations. Critchlow died in 1958 in Georgetown.

On 2 December 1964 then premier of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, unveiled a bronze statue sculptured to Critchlow’s likeness in the compound of the Parliament Building.

Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow devoted his life to changing the harsh conditions under which men were forced to work in those days. His work is specially remembered on May 1st, which is designated as

       . Labour Day or
       . Workers' Day or
       . May Day.

On this day, wreaths are laid at the base of Critchlow's statue bby leaders of the government and prominent tradee unionists.Workers all parade through the streets of th township dressed in red and white.They march under the banner of their particular trade union in a show of solidarity for workers' rights.