Chris Furbert, the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, has been named as the keynote speaker at the annual Labour Day Banquet taking place next week.

Mr Furbert will be the first sitting BIU president to deliver the keynote speech.

A BIU statement said: “Brother Chris Furbert has been representing the working class people of Bermuda for the past 44 years in ensuring that they are treated fairly in the workplace. This has always been his passion, representing workers. Should you ask anyone close to him, they will tell you that, this is his life and he truly enjoys what he does.

“Beginning his trade union career on the Hamilton Docks where he worked as a Longshoreman, Brother Chris was elected Assistant Secretary of the Port Workers division of the BIU in 1971. He also served as Vice President of the division and in 1981, after the general strike he became president of the Port Workers division, a position he held for 15 years, until February of 1995 when he was given the opportunity to work as a full time organiser of the BIU.

“In March 2006 he was elected as president of the BIU after serving as vice-president for ten years.”

In addition to the banquet, several other events are being scheduled including the BIU’s 2nd Annual Pre-Labour Day Golf Tournament at Port Royal Golf Course on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

Meanwhile on September 4 — the day before the Labour Day holiday — BIU members are invited to take part in a Pre-Labour Day gathering at Shelly Bay from 2pm to 7pm.

The Annual Labour Day Race and Walk hosted by Swan’s Running Club is set to begin at the BIU headquarters at 8.30am on September 5, while the Labour Day March will start at 11.30am.

Those interested in purchasing tickets for the Labour Day Banquet are invited to contact LaVerne Furbert at 292-0044 or by e-mail at lfurbert@biu.bm. Tickets cost $100 each.