Respected trade unionist Frank Carter dies

The Bahamian labour movement is mourning the passing of one of its most respected and influential figures, Franklin D. Carter, former President of the Airport, Airline and Allied Workers Union (AAAWU) and labour consultant in the Ministry of the Public Service.

Carter died early this morning.

News of his passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the nation, with Minister of Labour and the Public Service, Pia Glover-Rolle, issuing a heartfelt statement reflecting on Carter’s decades-long dedication to the advancement of workers' rights in The Bahamas.

“It is with profound sadness early this morning that I learnt of the passing of Mr. Franklin D. Carter,” the Minister said.

“Our nation has lost a great warrior. The trade union movement has lost a treasured soldier.”

Carter began his trade union career as a young engineer at Bahamasair, where he quickly became involved in advocating for workers’ rights. Rising through the ranks, he served as a Shop Steward, Secretary/Treasurer, and ultimately President of the AAAWU. He held that position with distinction until 2002, guiding the union through numerous industrial negotiations and policy battles.

Glover-Rolle described him as a “fearless leader with a big heart” whose influence extended far beyond the AAAWU.

“Mr. Carter’s life has been a testimony of service to his fellow man and the working people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” she said. “He was a constant advocate for peace and harmony in the workplace and a campaigner for equality and justice for all Bahamian workers.”

A founding member of the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB), Carter also served as First Vice President and, in later years, as an advisor and mentor to countless trade unionists across the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

His leadership helped set the stage for future union leaders such as the late Nellerene Harding, Gladstone Thurston, and Jewel Fountain.

Even after stepping back from active leadership, Carter remained a pillar of the movement, known for his humility, wisdom, and the ability to find peaceful resolutions to some of the nation’s most complex industrial disputes.

“When the history of the trade union movement is recorded,” Glover-Rolle added, “the legacy of Franklin Carter will stand on the same level as the heroes of the modern Bahamian trade unionists like Thomas Bastion, Patrick Bain, Leroy ‘Duke’ Hanna, Keith Archer, Williamae Bridgewater, and Mable Walker.”

He is survived by his wife Marion, three children, and a large extended family.

The Minister extended her condolences to the Carter family, the AAAWU, and the wider labour community.