Bermudian workers must recognise the power of their hard-earned dollars and shop at businesses that support their causes, the BIU's guest speaker said on Saturday.

And trade unionists must be careful not to rest on past achievements, instead they must work assiduously to ensure that previous and current gains are not rolled back.

Bishop Vinton Anderson, the Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, delivered the keynote address at the Bermuda Industrial Union's 15th annual banquet at the Southampton Princess Hotel.

The more than 400-strong audience applauded, nodded appreciatively and cheered on Rt. Rev. Anderson, who spoke for 35 minutes.

In a trademark raspy baritone, the Bermuda-born minister encouraged workers to become "builders of a new reality''.

A first step he said would be for them to be more careful of where they spent their money.

"We should do business at 49 Union Square,'' he urged. "We should do business with other merchants whose dollars will be recycled for the benefit of the larger community.

"We must shop on Church and Dundonald Streets not just on Front and Queen Street. We cannot promote unionism while practising elitism at the same time.'' However as the BIU enjoys its 50th anniversary as an organisation dedicated to improving the working conditions of the labour class, he warned there are many forces seeking to counteract the work.

While many of these operate from outside, there were many other insidious enemies within the union as well, he said.

"Fifty years of experience by the Bermuda Industrial Union has taught us that counter forces are always in our midst,'' he continued.

"They are the antagonists and the opponents who attack us from without our ranks and then there are the pessimists and the naysayers who attack us from within. They are us.'' Additionally, Bishop Anderson said those who have achieved have an obligation to assist those who are struggling.

And the content of that help must be more than mere words. It must translate into a willingness "to walk and work with'' those less well off.

"We are indeed one people,'' he added. "One family and therefore we must not turn our backs on those brothers and sisters who are homeless.'' But good intentions are not always enough Bishop Anderson indicated because the work of trade unions takes place within a global dimension that is predicated on racism.

Consequently, he said, racism aggravated the impact of crime, educational deficiencies and wage discrimination.

"Fifty years later we tonight must not bathe in the sunshine of yesterday's victories. We must not turn the clock back and we must not turn back.

"This celebration must be more than an occasion for lauding and applauding.

Having a success story is not enough. Our achievements of yesterday will not suffice for today.

"After 50 years the least, and the lost and the last still need voices of advocacy. There is still a need for organisations who will negotiate and intervene on behalf of the least of us.

"Our leaders must be friends of righteousness who face the power structures with integrity.'' Bishop Vinton Anderson