Dominica launches first Trade Union Congress with ILO support

Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica (ILO News) - On 26 September 2025, the Commonwealth of Dominica reached a historic landmark in its labour movement journey with the launch of its first-ever national Trade Union Congress (DTUC). Under the theme “Consolidating Trade Union Power through Unity and Solidarity,” the launch united four leading unions, the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT), Dominica Amalgamated Workers’ Union (DAWU), and the Waterfront and Allied Workers’ Union (WAWU) into a single platform. This platform aims to strengthen their collective bargaining power, amplify their advocacy efforts, and advance the Decent Work Agenda for all workers in Dominica.

The International Labour Organization (ILO), which has accompanied Dominica’s unions throughout this journey, hailed the achievement as a turning point for workers’ representation. Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, commended the founding unions: “Today you are launching the Dominica Trade Union Congress. This is no small achievement. It is the beginning of a new chapter for the workers of Dominica. This step strengthens workers’ representation in the country. It also strengthens your voice in the Caribbean, and in the wider international labour movement.”

He emphasized that unity is not only symbolic but also practical: “A united congress gives you a stronger seat at the table of social dialogue. It allows you to speak with one voice in defence of workers’ rights, to influence policy, and to stand firm against injustice.”

The journey to unity

ILO Specialist on Workers’ Activities, Ms. Vera Guseva, provided a detailed account of the collaborative process that led to the Congress’ creation. She highlighted that the idea first surfaced during an ILO mission to Dominica earlier this year, where the divisions within the labour movement were evident. From there, momentum built through joint May Day celebrations, follow-up discussions in St. Maarten, and the drafting of a modern constitution with the support of consultant Carol-Ann Jordan.

To enrich the process, Dominica’s unions also participated in a South–South peer learning exchange with the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, gaining first-hand insights from another Global South context. Through months of dialogue, negotiations, and consensus-building, the vision of a united trade union congress became a reality.

A modern and progressive constitution

Ms. Guseva described the new constitution as one of the most modern and progressive of its kind in the Caribbean. It reflects global best practices while tailoring provisions to Dominica’s realities.

Key features include

• A Preamble affirming workers’ role in national development, solidarity, and resilience in the face of global challenges.
• A Declaration of Labour Rights, enshrining freedoms such as collective bargaining, the right to strike, protection at work, decent rest and retirement, and lifelong learning.
• Clear Aims and Objectives, committing the DTUC to unified advocacy, defence of rights, and strengthening of the labour movement while respecting affiliate autonomy.
• Inclusive Membership, open to all free and democratic unions in Dominica willing to share in the mission.
• A Representative Structure, with authority vested in a biennial General Congress, supported by an Executive Council and Management Committee for day-to-day operations.

“This constitution is not just a legal document,” Ms. Guseva stressed. “It is the product of genuine collaboration, persistence, and commitment by the four founding unions. Its adoption is a commitment to stand together, speak together, and act together.”

Elected leadership

The inaugural Executive Council of the DTUC was elected to serve a two-year term:

• President: Steve Michael Joseph (DPSU)
• 1st Vice President: Elias Leah Shillingford (DAWU)
• 2nd Vice President: Donald Rolle (WAWU)
• General Secretary: Thomas Letang (DPSU)
• Treasurer: Kathleen Cornelius (DAT)
• Assistant Secretary: Mervin Alexander (DAT)
• Assistant Treasurer: Frederica Riley (WAWU)

Affiliate representatives

• Delia Cuffy Weeks (DPSU)
• Emmeline Stedman (DAWU)
• Julien Benjamin (DAT)
• Garvin Richards (WAWU)

Looking ahead

The DTUC represents more than the sum of its parts. It provides a unified voice for Dominica’s workers in national policymaking, regional debates, and international forums. The ILO has encouraged the new Congress to actively organize workers in the informal economy, strengthen social dialogue, and secure representation at the International Labour Conference, the “parliament of the world of work.”

As Ms. Guseva concluded: “The success of the DTUC will depend not only on the constitution before you, but on the spirit of solidarity you bring to it in the years ahead.”

The formation of the DTUC signals a reinvigorated, united, and forward-looking labour movement in Dominica. With ILO’s support, it marks the beginning of a stronger social contract for workers and a brighter future of work.