Trade Unionism in the Caribbean

Trade unions defined:

Associations or bodies of salary and wage earners, who by collective action, seek to
improve their general conditions (Munro 1985)
A continuous association of wage earners and salaried professionals who pool their
resources, time, energy, commitment and energy to build and maintain an organization
under leadership, to represent , protect and advance their job related and other interests
(Nurse 19092).

Origin and Development

The first unions in the BWI were formed in the 1890s. They were usually composed of
skilled workers in one particular trade, such as, printers. In 1919 a Trade union law was
passed which legitimized unions. However union membership was small and difficult to
maintain for a number of reasons:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

widespread emigration out of the WI and migration between islands

fluctuation in the economies resulted in great variations in workers conditions
it was difficult to organize agricultural workers
employers and workers were divided by race and class
union leadership was legally liable for loss of business by an employer in the
event of industrial unrest

The 1930s disturbances provided the impetus for the growth of unions. Between 1938
and 1943 58 new unions were registered membership of approx. 65,000. (Hamber and
Greenwood)
Political Unionism
A close association was formed between trade unions and political parties by the 1940s.
This happened under four circumstances:
where the unions came first, e.g. Antigua, St. Kitts, and Jamaica (Bustemante
Industrial Trade Union) and the created the party
where the party came first and then created its union support, e.g. Jamaicas
Peoples National Party formed the National Workers Union.
Where the party and the union already existed and came together for mutual
advantage, e.g. the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (1946) and the Peoples
Progressive Party (1950) joined to contest the 1953 election
Where the union and the party were one and the same, e.g. the Barbados
Progressive League registered as a trade union and entered politics
Reasons for the Relationship
o Unions were impatient with governments failure to pass satisfactory
labour laws

o The granting of universal adult suffrage allowed unions to use4 their

membership to vote the unions choice of representative
o The unions entry into politics was intended to thwart the middle classes
of political power
o The incorporation of socialist ideals into party platform served to attract
unions support.
Rise of independent unionism
The relationship between unions and parties underwent a change by the 1970s. Divergent
interests weakened the link. Munro (1985) offered the following reasons:
The interests of the professional and middle classes who controlled the parties
were being met ahead of those of workers in the unions affiliated to the party
Workers became distrustful of the relationship as their benefits reduced
Unions inability or unwillingness to deliver votes to the parties reduced their
importance to the parties
The increase in public sector employment served to position the minister as a
giver of jobs and the appearance of conflict of interest forced the unions to
distance themselves from the parties.
The movement to the formation of independent unions began by the 1970s particularly in
the services sector, e.g. the University and Allied Workers Union (Jamaica).
Achievements of trade unions
By the 1960s unions in most territories has achieved some or all of the following benefits
and conditions:
Minimum wage law; minimum wage; holiday with pay; sick leave; redundancy pay;
pensions; factory inspections.