On October 1, the Virgin Islands observes Contract Day, marking the 1878 Fireburn uprising on St. Croix, when workers challenged low wages, difficult working conditions, and a labor system that allowed them to change employment only once a year. Mary Thomas, Axeline “Agnes” Salomon, Mathilda McBean, Susanna “Bottom Belly” Abrahamson, and the laborers who stood with them became part of a struggle that helped push working conditions forward in the Virgin Islands.
“What those workers fought for in 1878 still matters today because people want the same basic things: fair pay, opportunity and the ability to build a good life for their families,” Governor Bryan said.
That same goal continues to shape the work being done across the Territory. This year, the minimum wage increased from $10.50 to $12 an hour, with additional increases scheduled to reach $15 by 2028.
Governor Bryan also recently announced an agreement increasing starting salaries for Virgin Islands police officers to $50,000 and police cadets to $45,000, giving those who choose a career in public safety a stronger opportunity to serve their community while building a stable career.
For working families, however, building a better life is about more than wages. It is also about whether young people can afford an education, whether families can become homeowners, and whether children can learn in schools that prepare them for the future.
Tuition-free education at the University of the Virgin Islands continues to expand access to higher education, VI Slice has helped more than 73 Virgin Islands families purchase homes, and the Territory is moving forward with the rebuilding and modernization of its public schools. The new Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 School opened this year on St. Croix as the first newly constructed public school in the Virgin Islands in more than three decades.
“Contract Day remains relevant because the fight for fair pay, opportunity and a better quality of life did not end in 1878. We have made progress, but there is still more to do, and this administration will continue the good fight our ancestors began 148 years ago so more Virgin Islanders can build secure lives and stronger futures right here at home,” Governor Bryan said.
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