INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

NCTUB Mourns the

passing of founding

president

Page 2

Message of Sympathy Page 3

National Literacy

Services

Page 4

Literacy Month

Activities

Page 5

UNESCO’s Literacy

Month Flier

Page 6

Know Your Rights Page 7

Useful Links Page 8

August, 2012August, 2012August, 2012 V o l u m e 7V o l u m e 7V o l u m e 7

National Congress of Trade Unions of the BahamasNational Congress of Trade Unions of the BahamasNational Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 2

Leroy “Duke” Hanna was the founding president of the National Con-gress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas (NCTUB) and the Past President

of the Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union, a position which he held for over 29 years. Brother Hanna’s outstanding service as a trade unionist, senator, community activist and nation builder is legendry and is a good example for today’s trade unionist to follow.

I have fought a good I have fought a good

fight, I have finished my fight, I have finished my

course, I have kept the course, I have kept the

faith:faith: 2 Timothy 4:7 2 Timothy 4:7

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 3

Mrs. Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson President

National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas

It is with profound sorrow and regret that the National Congress of Trade Unions Ba-

hamas (NCTUB) learned of the passing of Leroy ‘Duke’ Hanna, the founding President of the NCTUB, Past President of the Bahamas Musicians & Entertainers Union (BMEU),

former Senator, and a champion of the trade union movement in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The trade union movement in The Bahamas and, indeed, the wider Caribbean region,

has directly benefitted from the contributions of Leroy ‘Duke’ Hanna and the Baha-mian labour force is in an enhanced position because of the role that Duke played. His

contributions to the growth and development of the people of the Bahamas will for-ever be etched in the hearts and minds of all trade unionists and should be recorded in

history of our nation.

From the 1950’s Duke walked alongside the heroes of the modern trade union move-ment, including the late Sir Clifford in the 1958 General Strike, the late Sir Randol Fawkes in the fight for Majority Rule and Independence, the late Patrick Bain with re-

gards to the integration of the Caribbean Trade Union Movement and the establish-ment and operational of the NCTUB Labour College, Leroy ‘Duke’ Hanna was in the

forefront of the social revolution in our country and his legacy will forever remain burning in the hearts of trade unionists for decades.

Sister Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, along with her Executive Board, Affiliates and the entire

membership of the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas, extends heart-felt condolences to Duke’s wife Joan, his children and grandchildren, and his extended

family, on this sad occasion. We also wish to express our sincere sympathy to officers and members of the Bahamas Musicians & Entertainers Union as they grieve his pass-

ing. We are mindful of the pain associated with the loss of a loved one and we are comforted with the knowledge that his living was not in vain.

It is our hope that the Almighty God keeps each of you strong as you face the difficult days, weeks, months and years ahead. Rest assured that the officers and members of

the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas will remember you and your family in prayer.

The trade union movement has lost a great champion and our nation has indeed lost

another soldier. Duke has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, and he has kept the faith.

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 4

The National Literacy Services is the successor to

the Let’s Read Bahamas Project, established in 1994. The need for the programme grew out of

concern by educators because of low reading levels of far too many Bahamian students who,

on becoming adults, were unable to function in society.

After successfully completing the objectives of

the student-focused Let’s Read Bahamas, the em-phasis shifted from the school environment to

adults who had deficiencies in reading and lan-guage skills. Thus, the Adult Literacy Movement

was established. Subsequently, the National Lit-eracy Services was launched on International Lit-eracy Day, September 9, 1999. its mandate, was

to offer services that will empower adult stu-dents and their families to acquire the Literacy

skills and practices they would need to function in today’s society.

Presently, several initiatives are being imple-

mented to promote Adult Literacy, The Adult Lit-eracy Programme caters to students who have

left school and did not acquire the basic reading skills and adults in the workplace, who lack fun-

damental literacy skills. This programme has also been extended to the Family Island.

National Literacy Services’ initiatives comple-ment those of the Department of Education. Its

officers view Adult Education as an essential component of the Bahamian Education System.

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 5

The month of September is National Literacy Services’ annual observation of Adult Literacy Month. Each year the unit joins the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organi-zation (UNESCO) on September 8, in celebration of Literacy Day. The proposed theme for the month is: “Community Awareness of Adult Literacy Supports and Strengthens National Building” Through the month long celebrations, National Literacy services seek to raise the public’s con-sciousness of adult literacy, the plight of adult learners and the contributions of volunteer tu-tors. The schedule of activities are in the table below:

ACTIVITIES COMMEMORATING ADULT LITERACY MONTH

SEPTEMBER, 2012

27th

August, 2012 – 30th

August, 2012

Appearance on local radio talk shows, where tutors will promote the work of the Unit via radio interviews.

2nd

September, 2012 Church Service at Shekinah Kingdom Ministries Golden Isles Rd. Pastor, Apostle Clement Neely

8th

September, 2012

The Minister of Education (Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald) will read UNESCO’s Interna-tional Literacy Day Message on radio and television

27th

September, 2012

The National Literacy Service will host an Adult Student Forum; the keynote speaker is Mr. Troy Clarke.

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 6

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 7

“A progressive trade union movement plays

a larger role than just representing their

members on the shop floor. It must have a

central role in democratization both of

politics and economic policy. To fulfill these

roles, it has to be characterized by greater

internal democracy, ensuring worker con-

trol of the operations and decisions of the

union.”

(Excerpt from, A Strategic Perspective on the International Trade

Union Movement for the 21st Century: A Minimum Platform to

Reposition the ICFTU to Meet the Challenges of the New Millen-

nium, July 2001)

http://www.cosatu.org.za/docs/discussion/2001/icftu-mr.htm

V O L U M E 7 P A G E 8

ILO Turin Centre

http://www.itcilo.org/en

International Trade Union Confederation http://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20.html

the ILO Workers' Relations Bureau http://www.ilo.org/actrav/lang--en/index.htm

Decent Work Country Programme, The Bahamas

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/program/dwcp/download/bahamas.pdf

ILO Caribbean

http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Regionsandcountries/LatinAmericaandCaribbean/lang--en/index.htm

Trade Union History, Bahamas www.nctu-bahamas.org

www.sirrandolfawkes.com

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 7

Dear Friends,

We are very happy to have completed another addition of the newsletter for

the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and we would like to thank

each and everyone one of you who took the time to make a contribution.

The name of the newsletter is The Workers’ Voice which was a name that Sir

Randol Fawkes gave to the Bahamas Federation of Labor's newspaper in

1959. This current newsletter gives to you, the worker, a voice—a means to

communicate with your fellow brothers and sisters in the union. Additionally,

through the Workers’ Voice, you now have the opportunity of profiling your

union and the work that you are doing.

It is our aim to introduce to you all of the affiliate unions attached to the

NCTU. In each edition, we also will bring you content that is historical in na-

ture. History informs us of the struggles that our forbears underwent and the

debt of appreciation that we owe them for the sacrifices made. The newsletter

will also enable us to document the history that is being made to day so that

future generations will be inspired by our efforts .

Finally would you like to be apart of this communications venture? Do you

have a story to tell, an opinion to share? Do you have English, photography,

graphic arts design skills? If your answer is ―Yes‖ then we would appreciate

hearing from you.

With thanks

Sheleta Collie

Chairman of the Public Relations Committee

National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas Ph: 242-356-7459 Fax: 3242-56-7457 E-mail: ncongress@hotmail.com Website: nctu-bahamas.org