The Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) has a proud legacy as the first trade union formed in Bermuda on February 1, 1919 and the first registered trade union in 1947.

Over the last 90 years, the BUT has always been on the cutting edge of educational change in Bermuda with members over the years including historians, politicians and legends in their field including Dr. Kenneth E Robinson, Dr. Eva Hodgson and Neville Tatem.

It all began in 1919 with a handful of teachers including Rev. Rufus Stovell, Adele Tucker and Edith and Matilda Crawford.

According to a brief history of the BUT published by Khalid Abdul Wasi in November 2004, the teachers realised that they were all victims of a systemic neglect for the educational needs of the black population, along with the all too familiar under appreciation of both the role and struggle of the teachers in that early 20th century society.

They resolved to remedy that situation and as result of a meeting in February 1919, the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) was born.

At its first meeting, the structure of the BUT was formed with Rev. Richard Tobitt as president, Rev. Stovell as vice president, Miss Crawford as secretary and Miss Tucker as treasurer.

The BUT gained its initial support from approximately a third of the Island's black teachers. This small, but ageing group of pioneers with their dedication and efforts, provided the beginning of a focus and an organised effort for the much needed institutionalisation of education for the black population, which eventually helped break down the obstacles that prevented proper public education for all Bermudian children, regardless of race.

From the onset the efforts of the Union were characterised by their united stand to force a reluctant government to honour the needs of black children. The early founders, who were themselves major pillars upon which the education system of Bermuda's young rested, believed that it was a young persons right to an education along with the commitment need for a government to produce an able resource of Bermudian teachers.

The BUT, modelled on what they remembered of summer teacher training course in 1904, led the way by bringing teachers from America to conduct a summer training course for teachers in 1923.

Some of their aims of getting more qualified Bermudian teachers were being met when in 1931, Government began to provide funds to send potential black Bermudian teachers to the teacher training colleges in Jamaica.

Through pressure on government by the BUT, that scholarship facility was expanded towards others whose choices were to study in England and Canada.

The Board of Education also conducted local summer and year round courses for teachers. The courses instruction was provided by, among others, Dr. DJ Williams, Dame Marjorie Bean and Dr. Kenneth Robinson.

This new crop of fully trained teachers provided a much-needed boost to Bermuda's teaching capacity and by 1937 the BUT had 42 members — many of them by that time were certified teachers.

A new wave in the BUT would emerge with members including Walter Robinson, Arnold Francis, Dr. Robinson, FS Furbert, Neville Tatem, Russell Dismont, Alma Hunt and Earle Haughton. Dr. Robinson, as president of the BUT, would lead this revitalised effort in the early to mid Forties.

During this period, known as the "fighting forties", the BUT would be eye-to-eye with Government continuing the arguments for more institutionalised strength for the education of our young. In 1947 the BUT became the first registered trade union in Bermuda's history.

In 1948, the Teachers Association of Bermuda (TAB) also became a registered Trade Union and for the next two decades these two teachers' unions would be kept apart by racial segregation.

During the latter part of the 1950s, the tide of desegregation began and saw the introduction of a purposefully built desegregated high school, The Bermuda Technical Institute.

The two unions began efforts to better conditions for teachers and cooperated under what would be known as the Joint Union Salaries Committee (JUSC).

During Bermuda's highly active social transition period of the 1960s, the combined unions, through its vehicle the JUSC, staged a successful Island-wide teachers strike in march 1963. And following the strike, the BUT captured the support of 85 percent of all teachers. They were further bolstered in 1964 when TAB, through negotiations, joined ranks with the BUT. Former teacher and author, Colin Benbow's efforts for the TAB input during this transition period were considerable.

In search for unity, the two unions were renamed the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers and Dr. Eva Hodgson became its first leader.

In 1997, the name ABUT was changed back to the original name of the BUT.

As an organisation, BUT is not only Bermuda's first union, but also the largest single bodied trade union, representing 85 percent of the Island's teachers.

Today the BUT has a membership of about 900, owns its own headquarters on Church Street, and is recognised and respected internationally.