Jamaica: Trades Unions Material

Scope and Content

Rules, constitutions, pamphlets, annual reports, periodicals, newsletters, newspapers, collective bargaining agreements, leaflets, conference reports, 1951-1979, issued by the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, the Jamaica Employers' Federation, the National Union of Democratic Teachers (Jamaica), the National Workers Union (Jamaica), and the Trades Union Congress (Jamaica).

Administrative / Biographical History

The major political parties in Jamaica grew out of the trade union movement, so it is as a consequence unsurprising that the trade union federations remained politicised, affiliated either to the Jamaica Labour Party (the Bustamente Industrial Trade Union) or the People's National Party (the National Workers Union). The process by which union-employer negotiations were conducted is represented here, along with statements on collective bargaining agreements produced by both sides of industry.

Arrangement

Alphabetically by union, and then in rough chronological order.

Access Information

Open to all for research purposes; access is free for anyone in higher education.

Acquisition Information

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Other Finding Aids

Records at item level on library catalogue (SASCAT)

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by Daniel Millum, Political Archives Project Officer at the Institutes of Commonwealth and Latin American Studies.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies can usually be obtained - apply to library staff.

Custodial History

The Commonwealth Political Parties Materials collection was begun in 1960-61, with special emphasis being placed then, as now, on "primary material such as party constitutions, policy statements, convention reports and election manifestos." (ICS, Twelfth Annual Report 1960-1961). Since then, the main method of gathering material has been to appeal directly to political parties throughout the Commonwealth, though contributions from Institute members and staff following visits to relevant countries have been significant.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Related Material

See also Jamaica: Pressure Groups Material (PG.JM) and Jamaica: Political Parties Material (PP.JM), as well as Political Party, Trades Unions and Pressure Group Materials for other Commonwealth countries and related material in the library's main classified sequence, all held at the ICS.

Geographical Names