The General Strike of 1958, initially began as a taxicab strike. The government created and politically appointed, Airports Board, gave a lucrative airport to hotel transportation concession, to a foreign commercial bus company. The company was clandestinely controlled by Bay Street merchant interests. The move, effectively cut out the mostly negro, independently owned vehicle, taxi drivers. Negro taxi drivers were charging $3.50 for a ten mile trip from the new Windsor Field airport to Nassau hotels like the Emerald Beach, Fort Montague Hotel, British Colonial and Victoria Hotel.
The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, 16 January 1958
The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, 16 January 1958
On November 2nd, 1957, the Taxi Cab Union led by Clifford Darling, barricaded all roads leading from the airport. The Bahamas Federation of Labour and the Progressive Liberal Party both came out in overwhelming support. As the hope of the taxi drivers dampened, when attempts at negotiations failed, hotel workers, street workers, public utility workers, garbage collectors and even the stevedores walked off the job, in national support.
On Sunday, 12 January 1958, the general strike began. Nassau came to a standstill. The General Strike lasted some 18 days.
Nassau, BAHAMAS, during the eighteen day GENERAL STRIKE in Nassau: workers listening to a speaker at one of the NIGHTLY MASS MEETINGS. EIGHTEEN DAYS after its commencement the General Strike which started in Nassau over a transport dispute, was called off on January 30 the men were returning to work. The strike has paralysed the city and hit the tourist trade. There were numerous meetings between the Governor and labour leaders ——Illustrated London News, Saturday 08 February 1958
DEMONSTRATION IN THE CAPITAL OF THE BAHAMAS: police hold back part of the crowd which was attempting to demonstrate against the Governor when he went to open the Legislature in Nassau. This was an early incident in the general strike which began in the town a fortnight ago, and as result of the demonstration the Governor, Sir Raynor Arthur, sent for British troops from Jamaica. A company of the First Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment, was flown in by shuttle service. The strike affected the public services, and the hotels and tourists trade were especially hard it. —- The Sphere, London, Saturday, 25 January 1958
STRIKERS SHOW THEIR FEELINGS: A car carrying a Representative Member is booed as it arrives outside the Legislature. However, no further disorders reported last week after the arrival of the British troops and some essential services were operated. ——The Sphere, London, Saturday, 25 January 1958
ARMED POLICE PATROL: they are being carried in a lorry along a street in Nassau. At the beginning of the week the strike has still to be settled. Meanwhile the town, which relies a great deal on tourist trade, was suffering immense economic losses. ——The Sphere, London, Saturday, 25 January 1958
The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, 16 January 1958
The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, 16 January 1958
