Dominica’s Trade Unions Unite to Launch National Trade Union Congress by July 2025
Four of Dominica’s major trade unions have announced decisive steps toward the long-anticipated creation of a National Trade Union Congress (TUC), a move strongly supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The Dominica Amalgamated Workers Union (DAWU), Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Waterfront Allied Workers Union (WAWU), and the Dominica Teachers Association (DAT) have reignited efforts to officially establish the umbrella body by July 2025. After decades of stalled discussions, union leaders now say they are determined to complete the process.
On April 3rd, 2025, a steering committee was formed to guide and coordinate the TUC’s formation. The committee is chaired by Steve Joseph, President of the DPSU, with Frederica Riley of WAWU serving as Deputy Chairperson. Leah Shillingford of DAWU will act as Secretary, while Delia Cuffy Weekes of DPSU takes on Public Relations duties. Veteran unionists Thomas Letang (DPSU) and Ronald Sabaroche (DAWU) are also serving on the committee.
The unions have expressed a collective resolve to move beyond historical apprehensions that delayed the project, highlighting that Dominica remains among the few CARICOM countries without a formal TUC.
As part of their mobilization efforts, the unions have also announced a Joint Solidarity Health Walk for May 5, 2025, themed “Health is Wealth: Unions United and On the Move.” The walk will start at the Bayfront in Roseau and end in Soufrière, promoting not only worker solidarity but also awareness around non-communicable diseases, mental health, justice, and fairness in the workplace.
Union leaders are calling on all members and their families to participate in the event, which they say represents a critical step in strengthening worker rights advocacy across Dominica. A joint statement is also expected to be released on May Day 2025, reaffirming the unions’ commitment to worker dignity, better wages, and improved working conditions.
Those interested in participating in the walk are encouraged to contact their respective unions or the DPSU office at 448-2101.
In what could be a transformative moment for Dominica’s labor movement, the unions are signaling a firm intention: to move forward together and finally deliver a national voice for workers across the country.
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