Dominica has taken a major step in strengthening workers’ representation with the official launch of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), bringing together several of the island’s active unions under one umbrella. The formation of this body was celebrated at a gathering led by the Dominica Public Service Union, with participation from the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT), Dominica Amalgamated Workers Union (DAWU), and Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).
The new body was formally introduced during a ceremony attended by trade union leaders, workers’ representatives, and officials. The Congress is designed to coordinate the collective efforts of unions, ensuring that the voices of workers are amplified in national debates on labour, wages, and working conditions.
According to statements at the launch, the TUC will serve as a central point of advocacy, representing Dominica at regional and international forums such as the Caribbean Congress of Labour and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Leaders emphasized that the creation of this unified platform is not only about negotiation power, but also about advancing a modern vision of industrial relations in the country.
The Congress includes unions from various sectors of the economy, among them teachers, public servants, nurses, and private sector employees. Organizers stressed that the move to establish the TUC follows years of dialogue and a recognition that collective action is essential in addressing national challenges such as cost of living, job security, and workplace rights.
Speakers also linked the development to global labor trends, where consolidated union movements have proven more effective in securing benefits for workers. They pledged transparency and inclusivity as guiding principles, committing to ensure that ordinary members, not only union executives, feel the benefits of the new structure.
With the launch, Dominica joins its regional neighbors in strengthening the role of organized labor. The Trade Union Congress is expected to become a key player in policy-making discussions, particularly as the island navigates economic transformation and social change.
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